One logical answer to budget problem

TO THE EDITOR:

The recent BOE hearings made clear several depressing but challenging truths that must be faced by Wilkes County citizens. All of these truths fall under the large umbrella of "We are already paying more in taxes than we can afford."

We learned that our county population totals 10,457 having gone down every year from a total of 10,687 five years ago*. (*Wilkes County Map Stats from Fed. Stats - www.fedstatsgov.) Hand in hand with decreasing population, the county has lost at least five tax-paying industries and many small businesses and restaurants. It does not take a "rocket scientist" to calculate that diminishing population, industry, and businesses will equal rising taxes for the few left to pay.

Sales tax is probably the fairest tax of all. Everyone pays in proportion to the amount they spend. Unfortunately we cannot rely on this tax to solve our problem because of the same negatives that affect property taxes (diminishing population, industry and businesses) and also because not everything that we need can be bought here at home.

The budget for our Wilkes County Government is $9 million dollars and for the City of Washington the budget is $17 million dollars. Add these two together and divide by population and you arrive at $2500 dollars as the cost of government per man, woman and child in this county. .

What would you do if you found your own family budget facing this

problem of low income versus high expense? There is only one logical answer - "CUT COSTS."

We must find efficient ways to give the same services for less government cost. I ask you all to put your thoughts and advice in "Letters to the Editor." Maybe we will hear some good ideas and then we can "Pin the bell on the Cat" - (Aesop's Fable).

Sincerely Concerned, WILEY CRITTENDEN