Sun Journal Letter to the Editor: Craven County Spending Excesses, by CCTA Vice Chairman, Nancy Murdoch

August 13, 2011

As a member of Coastal Carolina Taxpayers Association I, with several other members, attended the Craven County Board of Commissioners’ meeting on Aug. 1.

One of the items on the agenda was a new service offered by the health department, serving the uninsured earning above 200 percent of the poverty level. By my estimation that amount would be around $40,000 per year. This is not a completely free service; fees are on a sliding scale with an example given of the patient paying about 40 percent of the fee. As of this time the cost is covered from other funds, and Public Health Director Scott Harrelson said he was confident funds would be there in the future.

As an observer of public expenditures, I believe that is not always the case. These are tight economic times, and a bad time to be adding programs and potential costs to taxpayers.

Individuals have a responsibility to provide their own health care, just as they do other necessities of life. Money is available for new cars, new clothes, new cell phones, and myriad other "unnecessary" things. Somehow health care never makes the list, and all too often the taxpayer is expected to pick up the tab.

Health insurance is available with various deductibles, but many will rely on public facilities if they are inexpensive and there for the taking.

The commissioners approved the move, with Commissioner Allen saluting the worthiness of the project.

Commissioner Allen is a fine man with a long history of dedicated public service, but he seems to have never met a public project he doesn’t love. It is been my observation that getting rid of a government program is akin to getting rid of crabgrass: a long, arduous process. Next year when the program is reviewed and is by then a budget item, will there still be funds available or will the taxpayers be expected to take up the slack?

On another vein, Mr. Hal James, a member of Coastal Carolina Taxpayers Association, addressed the commissioners regarding a junket undertaken by two county commissioners to Portland, Ore., for a convention of the National Association of Counties.

We were interested in hearing about what the commissions learned that would justify this expense. Commissioner Sampson gave a response of sound bites that could have come from the website of the association, adding emphasis that belonging and attending these meetings gave them "power."

I think the power resides in the hands of the citizens, but perhaps I’m mistaken. In no way did he give a satisfactory reply to spending taxpayer money in this fashion. Travel money has been budgeted, but the other commissioners declined to go, stating it was not in the best interests of the taxpayers at this time. How many families are staying home this year due to the high price of gas and an uncertain economic future?

Members of CCTA are attempting through their watchdog efforts to keep abreast of monetary concerns in Craven County, and to educate the public on fiscal responsibility at all levels of government. We are not terrorists; we are concerned citizens.

Nancy Murdoch, CCTA Vice Chairman
Havelock, NC

http://www.newbernsj.com/articles/county-99708-craven-attended.html




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