Tuesday, June 04, 2013

Governmental Chaos

The 2013-2014 county budget was scheduled for a vote on the County Commission this morning. It was first on the agenda. But the three Republican commissioners came into the room and began tearing up major parts of it and redistributing the money in a highly irregular manner that quickly devolved into its own species of FUBAR.

It was as clear as the nose on Nathan Miller's face that the three Republicans had met in private and that they had a "plan," such as it was, to suddenly take away $50,000 from mental health funding and give $13,300 of that amount to a small handful of their favored non-profits ("We're picking winners and losers," said Nathan Miller later on, in perhaps the truest words spoken all morning) and some $36,700 more to the Sheriff's department.

Commissioner David Blust was the designated front man for the budget changes. He read through his suggested changes to non-profit funding ... Foscoe Community Center, $5,000; Western Youth Network, $1,500; Mountain Alliance, $10,000; the Hunger Coalition, $8,500; Green Valley Community Park, $8,000....

When Blust reached Green Valley Community Park, the meeting took a purely bizarre turn, as the three Republican commissioners voted to open up a "limited" public hearing for just the Green Valley Park board and Wahoo Adventures to air their blood match against each other (don't ask. Suffice it to say that the procedure was not "regular order"). Others were not allowed to speak, even though big sections of the budget were being rewritten before the public's disbelieving eyes. The two Democratic commissioners kept objecting to the process, to no avail. Commissioner Welch in particular kept urging that another public work session on the budget was clearly needed. The Republicans weren't listening to that. They had a plan.

The five non-profits that Blust named (above) got additional crumbs. Nothing for Hospitality House. Nothing for a host of other non-profits, though Commissioner Welch made a motion to restore the original $17,000 that the County Manager had designated for non-profits. Motion failed 3-2, naturally.

Once the Republicans had voted their "winners and losers" among the non-profits, Commissioner Yates, who is like a wind-sock that takes a breeze without warning from any direction, suddenly began yammering that he had gotten calls from citizens who objected to taxpayer money going to non-profits, and Commissioner Yates thought he agreed with that sentiment, not noticing that he had just five minutes earlier voted to reward five non-profits with additional money while denying it to a bunch of others.

Commissioner Billy Kennedy offered the only summation that was possible on the morning's charade: "We're not doing right."

Final vote on the much-amended budget ... three Republicans in favor, two Democrats opposed.

If this is good government, not to mention good money management, I have a hat that's beginning to look mighty delicious.

27 comments:

county dem said...

So, with Mr. Miller announcing his possible run for Watauga County District Attorney, that will leave a vacancy in the County Commissioners. I'm wondering who my Democratic Party is planning to run for that seat, and who will oppose Mr. Miller in the DA's election? Time to wake up WatDems!! Lets get the ball rolling and kick these asshats out of office!!

DooDah said...

Sounds like the inmates are running the asylum!

johnbyjohn said...

Republicans love to campaign, and they love to win elections, but when it comes to actually governing they absolutely suck - it's like they can't be bothered to actually run the government that they are supposedly trying to "clean up." Shouldn't really be a surprise though - Republicans claim to hate government and always say that the government can't do anything right, then they get elected and prove it!

Anonymous said...

Cutting the entitlements that Democrats use to buy votes is not going to be popular with the gimme gimme people.

Anonymous said...

these are not Entitlements. this is about caring for "the Least of These" in a way that is more cost-effective. More mental health services, better education, and a safety net for the homeless (who've fallen through the cracks), less need for expensive prisons, in-patient care, etc.

Dem12 said...

What entitlements in Watauga County are used to buy votes?

Anonymous said...

Everyone that lives at the Hospitality House for starters!

Anonymous said...

What you falsely call ore mental health services, better education, and a safety net for the homeless (who've fallen through the cracks.

All of these are abused to get money from the government for people that don;t need it. .

Drogo said...

Uh.... the Hospitality House got nothing! can't you read??

ajenn said...

entitlements more hospitality house??? you obviously have no clue what takes place over there or any idea where their funding comes from...you are a selfish ignorant moron...probably read too much Ayn Rand and has no clue about The Sermon on the Mount

Anonymous said...

"what you did for the least of these, you did for me---except for those lazy, scary homeless bums"

Things Jesus Never Said

Dem12 said...

Would you rather have those people staying at the Hospitality House, or roaming the streets? Maybe robbing a few people or businesses? Would you prefer to pay for them being in jail? Typical conservative horseshit - not an ounce of empathy for anyone.

Anonymous said...

If we did not have the Hospitality House, we would not have nearly as many of "those people" in the county to wander the streets. Boone is known as a soft touch and attracts them from all over the country.

Anonagain said...

"Boone is known as a soft touch and attracts them from all over the country."

I would really love to know how homeless people manage to travel all over the country to get to one small town in the NC mountains!

Anonymous said...

They are paid to move from some places or their transportation is provided to get rid of them. They are working the system and beg, borrow, sell dope, or steal the money to get here in other cases.

ajenn said...

Hospitality House can only "house" people from 8 surrounding counties or give food boxes to people from those 8 counties.
Now people from all over the country can come in and eat the meals provided each day from churches or other civic groups. They can also take a shower or do their laundry.
OMG the horror of someone traveling from across the country to eat a hot meal and get cleaned up.

grim reaper said...

the Good News is that lots of "those people" just die off. Hospitality House has had about a dozen deaths in the last year. Terri died of lung cancer in August. A young mother lost her baby at 9 months. 2 of the staff members lost a sister and mom (probably karma or punishment for helping "those people") Another man died in March '13 the day he was moving out (heart attack moving boxes). Oh and a deaf, handicapped man in a wheelchair died a week later( severe asthma, quit breathing, couldn't yell for help) and then there was Lacey, some crazy facial-pierced lesbian (she only ate meals there and got some food boxes)....so good riddance, right? I am just getting started,.wanna hear more?

Anonymous said...

So they stop in one of the 8 counties for 10 minutes before they come here if they even bother to do that. They probably won't because the system any way.

Why can't they get help where they are already at if they need it? Is it because Boone is a soft touch?

Henery said...

Anonymous said, "If we did not have the Hospitality House, we would not have nearly as many of 'those people' in the county to wander the streets."

Anonymous is channeling Ebernezer Scrooge. Or more aptly, he's channeling the nobility of 18th century England, who were furious that the poor of Ireland had come to their attention. It was attitudes such as his that led Jonathan Swift to write "A Modest Proposal." Solution to poverty: eat the poor!

I'm reminded that the tea party Republicans worship much more consistently at the temple of Darwin than they do in the house of Jesus.

bettywhite said...

So what's your solution, Anonymous? I'm sure we'd ALL love to hear your wisdom!

Anonymous said...

"So what's your solution, Anonymous? I'm sure we'd ALL love to hear your wisdom!"

Certainly, I will be glad to share it. Charitable concerns such as this should be conducted LOCALLY by private individuals and organizations such as churches. They should not be conducted by a government entity.

Anonymous said...

Hospitality House was started nearly 30 years ago by 7 local churches and is still primarily funded by churches, individuals, and charitable endowments. They get some government housing grants - because they can provide housing for disabled people cheaper than the government can. and they were hoping for a very modest amount from the county government (which they didn't get), mostly to help feed people.

Hospitality House is NOT a government agency.

bettywhite said...

The H-House is a non-profit organization, not a government entity. They do receive some money from the government, but NOT from Watauga County. Do you support giving government money to non-profits? How do you feel about giving taxpayer money to private schools?

Anonymous said...

So, you are saying HH does not need government funding? If so, I agree.

I don't support giving government money to non profits. i support the voucher system so the parent gets to make the decision where the government monies speont on his child is used.

bettywhite said...

"So, you are saying HH does not need government funding? If so, I agree."

Are you talking to me? I think that the H-House DOES need some government money, since they perform a valuable public service.

"I don't support giving government money to non profits. i support the voucher system so the parent gets to make the decision where the government monies spent on his child is used."

You just contradicted yourself. Vouchers give government money to non-profit private schools.

Anonymous said...

"Vouchers give government money to non-profit private schools.

No, BW, government vouchers go to the students. Their parents decide where they are spent. You are mistaken.

Anonymous said...

HH serves 8 counties. How much does each of the other counties contribute?

How much do they receive in taxpayer money from federal and state grants?