Opposing viewpoints-TOPIC: County budget shortfall-County government should tighten its belt like rest of us

Gas prices are putting a hurting on the Clark family budget. So are the rising costs of just about everything, from groceries to routine doctor appointments for the kids.
Since we have no intention of filing for bankruptcy, I’ll let you in on a little secret. When our family expenses increase ‘ and our income does not ‘ we cut back in other areas. We don’t continue to spend, spend, spend when the money is not there.
Thus we come to the quandary our fine county commissioners are soon to face. Should they continue to spend when the money is not there? My answer is absolutely not.
Our government should adapt to the economic climate we face. And right now that climate is not so comfortable.
The Tennessee unemployment rate just took the largest one-month leap in its history and state unemployment is now 6.5 percent. People who do have jobs don’t necessarily have good ones, and soaring consumer debt threatens to keep the economy on its knees for the foreseeable future.
That said, county commissioners have no business raising property taxes to compensate for a dramatic downturn in the economy. And most of them know it.
When retail sales are down, when folks are having a more difficult time than usual, the county should not pile on additional expense through a tax increase.
If painful cuts are the only ones left, eliminate one day county convenience centers are open. Virtually every road in the county is paved so cut back the highway department. Get some firm answers about where all that money is going for industrial development.
Start there and continue until there are enough cuts to compensate for the estimated $350,000 shortfall. Do not raise taxes.