Open Letter To Somerset County Commissioners

Somerset’s budget ignores today’s economic times. As taxpayers we have to make cuts in our lives to reflect the current economical situation - government ought to make the same difficult cuts.

Though we applaud the Commissioners for not proposing major tax hikes as Queen Anne’s and Montgomery County have in the past weeks, more has to be done to address our current and future needs.

In the taxpayers’ eyes spending appears excessive within departments in the proposed Somerset budget. Each department should be broken down line by line so public actually knows how their money is being spent. Somerset County is not openly providing a line item budget this year.

Without a line item budget with explanations for large expenditures, like $911,746 spent on Planning and Zoning, we the taxpayers will not be able to give proper feedback that our elected officials ask for.

Lacking a line by line budget with accompanying justification insults the taxpayer and allows for opportunity for government waste and corruption. Waste and corruption by government cannot be supported by excessively burdened taxpayers.

Government services should reflect not just the revenue available, but the actual need of services. There is no point in having a fully funded and staffed department when there is no work to be done. Without a line item budget and open discourse this conclusion cannot be ascertained.

With minimal insight, it can be predicted that 2011-2012 will be more challenging as money from the state and federal agencies dry up, jobs go away and don’t come in, and from an unpredictable property market.

The Commissioners must not remain static, but look to the future anticipating lower revenues and be armed with a lean budget than can withstand economic downturns.

Government cannot tax our way to prosperity. The 2007 largest tax increases in Maryland’s history is hurting Maryland’s businesses, the core of economic prosperity. The “fair long term solution” to our State budget woes was not achieved either by the tax increases.

We ask that the County Commissioners become more transparent with openly providing a line item budget and by learning from Maryland’s excessive spending habits to avoid the temptation for the same failed solution of taxation.

Fiscal restraint now and lowering taxes creates a healthy business climate and a prosperous Somerset County!

Nick Loffer

Americans for Prosperity