Time for Chatham County commissioners to get off the spending bus and on the school bus

Posted Monday, June 1, 2009

 E-mail this page    Printer-friendly page

Let's put needs before wants

Pittsboro, NC - The Chatham County Republican Party announced it's opposition to the Board of Commissioners proposed Budget spending priorities.

During one of the worst recessions in decades, the county should not propose a budget that significantly increases the cost of government and cuts education. We all have to prioritize between "wants" and "needs". The Board of Commissioners should do the same. Chatham County has revenues 19% higher than 2002 adjusted for inflation and population growth. We have plenty of revenue, the county needs to control it's spending.

The proposed budget recommends cutting 22 educator positions including 11 teacher positions while at the same time adding the following:

• $130,000 to cover the initial cost of a Chapel Hill to Pittsboro bus route
• $59,000 for a new Transportation Planner salary
• $60,000 to update the Land use plan
• $522,266 to continue the plan started last year to set aside money to buy future park land.

Each of these items falls squarely in the "want" not "need" category. Now is not the time to be supplementing the Chapel Hill transit system at the expense of Chatham County teachers and children.

"If the BOC is serious about building a sustainable community, they need to reconsider their priorities. Teachers build a sustainable community, not expanding the planning department" said Brian Bock, Chairman of the Chatham County Republican Party.

The Chatham County Republican Party is a strong voice for responsible spending and works to protect the interests of those working to build a strong and sustainable community.

For more information go to chathamgop.org