By Jim Janes
Anderson resident
Madison County government is in a colossal mess, and the politicians will blame county workers. Working men and women in this county are under attack from this old, conservative political system that has been a total failure in Indiana, Madison County and the country.
When you look at the operation of county government, first it’s the county commissioners, second it’s the County Council. If what some county officials say is true the county, with all its budgets spends about $50 million annually, that means in the last 10 years, this old, conservative county government has spent half a billion dollars of tax money and all they have to show for it is a bankrupt county government. Are you better off now than you were 10 years ago?
When you see County Council member Gary Gustin making those motions to cut county workers’ pay and benefits, I don’t see Gustin, who is an Anderson city police officer, asking the City Council to cut any benefits he has in his union contract. I did not see the County Council ask for cuts in the $300,000 they pay a lawyer for rent on a building he could not rent for $10,000 annually on the private market. The building, called Happy Valley, is a work-release center, where defendants serve their time when sentenced, out of Madison County courts, to work release.
There is something wrong with county government when a politically involved private attorney is government’s first concern before county employees. Employees at the Madison County Government Center were ordered to take four days off without pay. County Highway employees were locked out from work for six days in October. County commissioners made sure they got their favorite roads paved before the lockout. County employees are now required to pay for their PERF Pension, which amounts to a 3 percent pay cut. With regard to PERF, the plan in Indiana had a $5 billion loss in the last two years; from $17 billion down to $12 billion.
A few weeks ago, Channel 13 TV reported that some appointees by Gov. Daniels to the PERF board were flying all over the world, staying in $600 to $700 per night hotels, for reasons that had nothing to do with the pension plan. But, don’t worry, those conservatives will take care of your money. Yeah, right.
If you talk to 10 property owners in Madison County, eight of them will tell you their property taxes increased. What is the county going to do with that extra money? County Highway workers pay about $40,000 annually in local taxes. Other county workers pay much more. County employees and private citizens have got to learn — you can’t starve your way out of bad government management. It’s time we change this old, conservative, third-world government in Madison County.
Letters
Viewpoint: Political system to blame for county's budget problems
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Letter: Consumer-driven economy will pay off debt
To save America some money — by acclimation of course — let’s not have a presidential election in 2012. We already have a good president who will do his best to kill all Republican bills (DOA) and, consequently, create more good-paying jobs in the $30 per hour range.
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Letter: Gingrich cashes in on political amnesia
Rasmussen says that Romney has flattened nationally. Why?
Two reasons seem to tell the tale. Gingrich has shown that he will fight, and Romney is a Mormon, believed to be a “cult” by a majority of evangelicals. -
Letter: Hiring Winkler not wise spending
As a taxpayer I want to know that my taxes are being spent wisely. Hiring Greg Winkler at a salary of $126,000 is not wise spending.
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Letter: Bill of Rights being nullified by new law
President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act on New Year’s Eve. I doubt many Americans noticed its implications because they do not yet comprehend the big picture. This law, coupled with the Patriot Act, is paving the way for America’s direction toward tyranny.
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Letter: $14 trillion debt started by previous president
I’m a proud atheist who’s lucky enough to know the difference between fact and fantasy.
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Letter: Economy putting people in the gutters
We are now getting the results of putting people in the gutters. We need to take a second look at our government and its policies. It’s not working.
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Viewpoint: Look at Creation Museum from an educational, scientific perspective
I encourage any and all who have interest in this vitally important topic to “go to the source,” to invest the time and energy into exploring The Creation Museum for themselves.
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Letter: Blame the voters for our Congress
Why is insider trading legal for Congress and illegal for the rest of us? They make and enact laws for all of us, but then exempt members of Congress. Somehow this doesn’t seem to pass the smell test.
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Letter: Smith’s firings appear vindictive
Anderson is a city of negative publicity and actions. Why else is Sears leaving? Can we stand four years of vindictive actions and negative reporting?
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Letter: Planned devaluation of dollar is coming
I’ve submitted letters regarding the existence of a global elite for years now. I’m now submitting another one in which I hope readers will take note of.
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Letter: Consumer-driven economy will pay off debt
