My brother-in-law works for Tim Burchett and although I don't share his conservative political philosophy, I do give Burchett credit for some basic governance that makes sense to me.
Some of that common sense involves the political topic de jour: "fiscal responsibility."
I don't make a lot of money, so living within my means is important personally as well as philosophically. So, I support the move to find efficiencies in government.
However, I see increased funding in areas that I see siphoning off funds from important public ventures, like investment in public parks and recreation opportunities, public health services, and library services.
I went through the entire budget proposal, which is available online, and picked out some things I found interesting:
- Increase to "Public Safety" department (Knox County Sheriff's Office) which does not seem motivated to be thrifty
- "U.S. Soccer Complex" seems to have been zeroed out last year - I don't really care about soccer in West Knox County, but I do believe we need more public parks / sports fields to enhance public health
- cuts to park maintenance (speaks to public parks again)
- cuts to veterans office (Cuts to Veterans? Really?)
- cuts to office of neighborhoods (Is this the same entity as City of Knoxville's Office of Neighborhoods? - what is a community without neighborhood representation?
- Why did "Vector Control" go from 62,898 in 2010 to 7,000 in 2011 and 2012? For non-biologists out there - that's "disease vectors" like mosquitos. I already have enough mosquitos in my neighborhood. This seems like a major public health concern.
- What is the "Car Seat Program" - surely there are enough car seats for Knox County's toddlers.
- Why is there an "inoperable car lot" is that "impound lot?" If it's just a lot for inoperable cars, why do we have a lot full of inoperable cars?
- What is the difference between "Digitized Mapping" and "Geographic Information Systems?"
- FY12 9,905,053 for "Sheriff's Administration" Seriously? 9 million dollars for administration?
- Why was there a cut to "Detectives"
- Why was there a cut to "Narcotics"
- Why was there a cut to the recycling program? Recycling can save money - our neighbors in Sevier County the East even have a world-renowned composting facility that saves landfill space
- Why is there a 459,000 increase in the "Hotel/Motel Tax Fund" What is that?
- Why was "stormwater management - violation" phased out?
- Why is "Highway and Bridge Maintenance" over 7 million dollars, and increased over 200,000 for FY2012
