Commissioner seeks budget transparency
I would like to add some clarity to the discussion about discretionary funds, the subject of both sides of the editorial page last week.
My central point in the discussion is transparency and accountability to county government as it relates to tax dollars Hamilton County government gives to nonprofit organizations. Selected nonprofits receive more than $1 million of tax money each month, and yet we do not have a line-item budget from most of them explaining where the money is being spent
Discretionary funds are used with complete transparency and accountability. These funds meet needs - small and important - that the mayor's budget will never address.
Suggesting discretionary funds are nothing more than a method of gaining political favor is disingenuous. I have never needed discretionary funds to get elected. However, if you agree with this view, consider the fact that nonprofits funded in our budget are selected by the mayor. This fact alone may lead one to believe the mayor is the primary recipient of political favor.
There is total transparency on discretionary funds. Each dollar allocated is voted on publicly by the entire commission. There is no such transparency with how our tax dollars are spent by the nonprofits.
Tim Boyd
County commissioner, District 8
Fund new HES shelter; take care of animals
I am in total agreement with the editorial about funding for the new HES animal shelter. I was in there 13 years ago to adopt our two cats, and it was not a pretty sight back then. I can only imagine what it looks like 13 years later.
They are doing a wonderful job and should be supported. We as a society are judged by how we take care of our children and our animals. We've been failing our children. Let's not fail the animals.
Lauren Pieniaszek
Ooltewah
Smokers urged to quit to protect their health
Pure and simple, if you smoke you should get now or over time chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or emphysema. Smoking involves long-term permanent damage to tiny clusters of air sacs or alveoli in the lungs, where oxygen is absorbed into the bloodstream and carbon dioxide is released to be exhaled.
You should really stop smoking right now - today. Six months and you feel as if you are like new again.
Ed Foster
Dayton
Bin Laden comment costs Trump support
I voted for Trump knowing who he was and hoping the office would temper his propensity to be an a-. I was sorely disappointed. After his latest misconceived utterance about the hunt for Osama bin Laden, he has to go. He has received the only and last vote from me, and purposely he does not deserve to be referred to as "president" Trump.
Sam Lewallen Jr.
Sale Creek