Jay GreesonRead more
Hamilton County commissioners votes to take spending money back
Call them the Sneaky Six.
Say hello to Hamilton County Commissioners Chester Bankston, Tim Boyd, Randy Fairbanks, Warren Mackey, Sabrena Smedley and Jim Fields.
As reported Wednesday at timesfreepress.com and in today's print edition by reporter Louie Brogdon, those six county commissioners decided that they had to have their $100,000-per-commissioner discretionary fund in next year's budget. Had to. Simply needed it like you and I need sleep.
Those six decided that their needs were more important than the process, which rightly and smartly eliminated commissioners' discretionary funds from the budget on the cusp of final approval. They made the command decision that the wants of a half dozen counted for more than the wishes of the people. Sure, they will try to claim these six-figure accounts are for their districts.
Whatever. Forget the rhetoric that this is about constituent needs.
This is about stashing political capital in a slush fund to be tapped at the commissioners' discretion. We are the only county in the state that allows commissioners independently to direct spending of more than $5,000. Those funds could be described in more cynical circles as a legal way to buy votes and/or public approval.
So, despite the clear message that County Mayor Jim Coppinger thinks the commissioners' six-figure ATMs need to go, our slippery six seatholders voted Wednesday to put those funds back into the county budget.
They want the money drawn from the county's rainy-day fund.
We heard throughout this budgeting process - and from several of the six - about whether this year's specific budget requests were for one-time expenses or ongoing costs. We have listened weekly to insistence that the county's swollen reserves help preserve stellar credit ratings, which saves the county millions in interest expense.
And we all weighed in on whether there needed to be a tax increase to boost funding for schools. It was a brave pitch made over and over by schools Superintendent Rick Smith at various times throughout the county.
Whether you supported Smith's pitch or not, no one could say Smith was ever anything but completely upfront and clear with his request.
The Sneaky Six? They are as transparent as the water at the Moccasin Bend treatment facility.
If only these commissioners had a similar chance or platform as Smith to make their case for the money.
If only they had had chances to disclose their rationales for keeping the discretionary money. If only there was a time when our county servants had to stand up and account for their budget requests.
Oh, right, there was - in each case. And if you wonder why most politicians have an approval rating somewhere between a root canal and an insurance seminar, it's because of whispers and wink-filled situations like this.
They waited until the 11th hour, with little to no mention of their intent. Plus, since there was little to no discussion about it Wednesday morning, you can't help but wonder how many behind-the-scenes discussions were held about an issue each commissioner would have to know would be controversial.
Maybe someone accidentally left a letter on the table in the break room, you know, like that petition for the commissioners to get a raise from the Legislature earlier this year?
So now the budget has an added $900,000 line item for the whims and wants of your county commissioners, courtesy of the Sneaky Six.
They won't be the first or the last politicians to try to slide one by the public. Nope, they're just the latest, just like they are the newest group with a number-tied nickname.
Be they the Seven Dwarfs or the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, maybe there is strength in numbers-based monikers.
As for our Sneaky Six, well, we do know they are twice as silly as the Three Stooges.
Read Jay Greeson's online column the "5-at-10" Monday through Friday at timesfreepress.com after 10 a.m. Contact him at jgree son@timesfreepress.com and follow him on Twitter at @jgreesontfp.