Let me say it one more time:
We need a new and permanent direction that will fundamentally change the way we do business in Butler County.
Meeting after meeting, I have said it over and over that we must run this county like a business. And to do that, we must streamline government and spend less money than we take in.
You know that it takes a majority vote to get anything done by commissioners. Since I took office, I have fought long and hard to get two votes to reduce spending.
We all know the economy is bad, but that’s no excuse for poorly managing the money we have. As Ronald Reagan said, “The problem isn’t that people are taxed too little; the problem is that government spends too much.”
I told my fellow commissioners that I would not be pushed into a corner to pass a sales tax that nobody wants, and that only a fool would propose it in this economy. I have the courage to say “no” to taxes, and I also have the courage to say “yes” if it means saving my county. However, we cannot even talk about raising taxes until we restore people’s faith and confidence that we are headed in the right direction.
We cannot head in the right direction without reliable budget numbers. I have lost confidence in our ability to get the numbers right, and we’re going to fix that in fast order.
I value our many hard-working county employees but, just like me, they work for you. It is wrong for elected officials to dole out big pay raises when there are so many people standing in the unemployment line.
We can streamline the way we do business, and we can do it without jeopardizing your safety and welfare. Given the choice, I think the people would prefer more police over another fancy building.
It all goes back to our need for a fundamental change in the way the county does business. What does that really mean?
• It means we must develop a central purchasing department that will increase efficiency and save millions of dollars.
• It means we must have somebody watching contracts and leases, so we can negotiate the best possible deals for taxpayers.
• It means we must merge departments, and demonstrate our willingness to perform and provide more at less expense.
• It means we must develop sensible guidelines for how we pay county employees, so that the process is fundamentally fair to all applicants.
• It means we must have a centralized personnel department in place that works with other county offices to eliminate duplicated services.
• It means we must find the most creative, innovative administrators possible who understand accountability and professionalism.
It means all of that, and a whole lot more. We simply haven’t done nearly enough.
We — and I mean every one of us elected by the people —must come together and face this challenge. It is the only way to restore the public’s trust in a brighter future.
And did I mention that I believe we need a fundamental change in the way our county does business?
Don Dixon is a member of the Butler County Commission.