The Envelope, Please....

Here are my answers to the questions posed at the Executive Committee Meeting:

My Ranking Question Committee Ranking

1 Maximize Operation Efficiencies                        1

2 Property Tax Exemptions                               2

4 Increase and/or New Fees and Charges              3

8 Delay Maintenance or Capital Projects               10

10      Borrowing                                          9

9       Sell Assets                                        11

7    New Taxes                                        7

5    Shift Costs to Others                               5

3    Use Fund Balance                                  8

6    Staff Lay-Offs                                     6

11    Reduction/Elimination of Programs/Services        4

One area of immediate concern is that several Supervisors apparently are determined to sell the Lime Quarry as part of their agenda.  Selling the quarry makes no sense to me, as the Lime Quarry is turning a profit and was created to provide a source of lime for agriculture in Polk County.  We do still have farms in Polk County, and I hope we will for the foreseeable future, so I think it's premature to consider selling the quarry.

Some people believe that the County should not be involved in any enterprise that private business can perform.  There are private nursing homes, of course, and there are private lime quarries.  Thus, according to this view, the County needs to divest itself from the business of running the Lime Quarry and turn it over to private interests.  This is the same philosophy that led to the sale of Golden Age Manor, which I opposed.  I think that the sale of the Lime Quarry, if it happens, should only occur after a full and open public discussion of competing viewpoints and an open bidding process so we don't get into another Golden Age Manor fiasco.    

Please post your opinions!