As part of the budget process every year, the Butler County Commissioners hold a public hearing to discuss their proposed budget with constituents.
On Aug. 16 at 9 a.m. the commissioners will hold a public hearing for the proposed 2012 budget.
The public hearing will be in the commission meeting room on the fourth floor of the Butler County Courthouse.
The motion to set the hearing on Aug. 16 passed by a vote of 3-2 with Commissioners Bruce Harris, Mike Wheeler and Dan Woydziak in favor and Commissioners Jeff Masterson and Peggy Palmer opposed. Masterson and Palmer were opposed because they were not in favor some of the things in the proposed budget.
“My no vote on the budget is simple,” said Palmer. “I cannot support the county’s proposed budget that has increased spending and taxes. A flat mill levy does not reflect less spending or lower taxes. When valuations go up and new money is raised through increases in valuations, it can either be used for spending increases or for reduce taxes by lowering the mill levy.”
Palmer also noted she is concerned about the burden on taxpayers.
“Times are tough, the future is unknown and the time has come when the people’s ability to pay must be considered and placed first in the decision making process,” she said. “The majority of the commissioners have ruled and unfortunately, the county continues to tax and spend in a time when austerity is paramount.”
Although Woydziak understood Palmer and Masterson’s objections to parts of the budget, he thought it would be better to express displeasure during upcoming discussions instead of on a vote to establish a public hearing date.
He felt that since the commissioners are required by law to hold a public hearing on their proposed budget, regardless of how much approval it has, the opposition votes would be more relevant when the commission votes on adopting the budget.
In other business, the commission:
• approved the appointment of two new members to the board of directors for Flinthills Services, Inc.
• discussed property between Augusta and Andover that was previously under the control of the BNSF Railroad but is now in the middle of an ownership dispute. The discussion will continue and the commissioners would like to have a conference call with a lawyer in Washington, D.C. who is working on the case.
