|
-
The county is broke-or something like
that...
The county’s check
register is available for public inspection in the BOC office at
anytime thanks to a campaign promise by Comm. Johnson. Long ago all
the checks used to be published in the paper; many people say they’d
still like to see that done. The cost to publish the number of
checks written today would be prohibitive.
You many look at
the check register and see who, when, and for how much money each
check is for. If you’ve got a question as to what the
check was for, you can ask to see the original invoice. The TWG did
just that.
In September the
County spent over $2000 for postage, $4400 for “training and
education”, over $2300 for a new desk, chair and computer, and over
$7000 for office supplies—which includes buying Coke, Dr. Pepper,
Diet Coke, and bottled water for the office. All government offices
we’ve spoken with (except Jasper County) have a fund where the
employees chip in for coffee, etc. Not here. The taxpayers get to
pick up the tab because no one is supervising or watching what is
being spent.
Another example is
check #229030, dated 9/21/05, was written to Leonard Myers (interim
county manager) for $33.89. That doesn’t sound like much, but when
the County Manager is already receiving $50 per hour plus $30 per
day travel, we wondered what this check was for. The invoice shows
Mr. Myers, Jack Bernard, and Scott Wilson (UGA) ate at the Four
Seasons restaurant, and they let the taxpayers pick up the tab.
Lunch is lunch.
It’s not the taxpayer’s place to pick up the tab. If the County
Manager wants to take someone to lunch, he can certainly do so, but
he needs to pay for it. With what we’re paying him, he should
certainly be able to afford it. |
