Taxing Options

One of the greatest mistakes any government can make is the decision that it knows how to handle the money of the people under that government better than the people do. This is one of many false principles of government that creates an undo burden on those who financially support it and it is this principle that finds itself being tested today.

With the overwhelming vote to restrict government spending, there can be no clearer signal to elected officials that all spending must be reviewed and cut to only the most basic of governmental functions. Police and Fire Protection, Transportation, and basic government operations are what the voters have told governments they need to focus their spending on. Social service funding was not on the short list of priorities of the voters who voted for this tax relief, so now it is time to make the necessary cuts.

At last week's meeting, Mayor Swan had started an excellent list of social programs that needed to stop being funding and we applaud his efforts in being able to make the difficult choices. We hope that he does not have a change of heart at the meeting scheduled for this evening.

On tonight's agenda, Item F is a request for the Commission to give direction on potential budget cuts and we feel that this item cannot be danced around any longer. Three programs were on the agenda last week which were the School of Government, the Annual Board Appreciation Dinner, and the Funding for Social Services. The WayneWho staff believes that making these cuts is a good first step in controlling spending and listening to the will of the voters. We know these are tough decisions and we believe that all of these programs show the true commitment our government has to its community, but these are tough times that require tough measures.

We hope that at tonight's meeting other cuts are made and that the list given by our Mayor is looked at closely. Membership dues to the Chamber of Commerce, Metro Plan Orlando, and the rest are not wise expenditures. Tax money given to Main Street and programs like "Flee to Be Free" are not what voters have asked you to fund using their money. These organizations and the social service programs like the Council on Aging need to make the transition to private funding and transition away from government welfare. The Children's Advocacy Center had a fantastic program this weekend that raised a good deal of money. These programs will survive, and they will go on. The great people of Osceola County, the City of Kissimmee, and the City of St. Cloud will make sure of that. Private funding will create a better opportunity for these organizations to serve those who need it most and draw a better awareness to the crisis our community finds itself in today. Free markets have to be trusted if this democracy is going to be strong.

The focus tonight is on the City of Kissimmee which always seems to find itself in the leading role of tough issues. We know that St. Cloud just made several cuts to social service programs, but as of now has not made the deeper cuts that are required. Of course, our county government continues forward like it has blinders on. Their idea is to cut police and fire protection to put more money towards helping developers succeed under the green light known as the comprehensive plan. We hope that the commissioners will soon see the light and make the cuts that are needed.

If the right decisions are made by our government, we believe the right decisions will be made by our community to addresses the challenges that will be created. We are confident that our community will come together to tackle these issues.