From the Aiken Standard
'Fiscal prudence a must for Aiken County in 2009
1/4/2009 12:17 AM
By GARY BUNKER
Guest columnist
The current financial crisis and continued uncertainty about the economy have prompted several of my constituents to question me regarding Aiken County's financial stability. Is Aiken County vulnerable to the budget cuts and layoffs that we've seen across the country at the state, county and municipal levels? Will revenue fail to meet expectations? What is the risk that services will be cut?
In the short run, the outlook is good. Aiken County is financially sound and has a greater than 90-day cash reserve. Unlike the federal government, Aiken County can neither run budget deficits nor print or otherwise create money out of thin air to meet its obligations. State law requires counties to be far more fiscally conservative than the federal government.
Revenues for the 2008/2009 fiscal year, however, will be less than what was budgeted in June. The reasons are straightforward: state aid to Aiken County has been slashed by approximately $600,000, interest on the county reserve funds has plummeted, vehicle taxes are down and fewer fees are being generated due to the housing slowdown. On the other hand, property and sales tax revenues will likely hold steady.
Aiken County will work to avoid dipping into its reserves this year. Though we're experiencing the "rainy days" that these reserves were meant to guard against, it's still possible to keep expenses below the reduced revenues.
Some opportunities remain for savings this year. Aiken County uses a lot of gasoline (Sheriff's Office, Public Works and EMS) and the budget assumed $3.75 per gallon. The price of gas has plunged below this amount, and if current trends continue this will offset some of the decline in revenue. Where will gas prices go? Nobody knows - but Aiken County is benefiting from current prices.
In addition, there are other "dials" that can be turned to hold down spending: delay or defer items in the capital projects fund, delay filling vacancies, delay or reduce merit raises, extend the road scraping schedule, etc. The key point is that no layoffs are planned and no significant reductions in county services are contemplated.
The bigger issue is next year's budget. Some economic experts declare that the worst of the crisis is over, others are certain that another Great Depression is imminent, and the rest are scattered across the spectrum. Frankly, no one knows what the future holds. The crystal balls have rolled off the table and cracked. This makes planning difficult.
The nightmare scenario is that revenues drop dramatically next year, which in turn necessitates a tax hike to keep basic services running. Aiken County isn't a wealthy county. While there are individuals and neighborhoods that do very well, there are also many citizens who struggle to make ends meet. An increase in property taxes in conjunction with growing unemployment will create great hardships for many families.
What does this mean in the short run? For starters, Aiken County must not overextend itself this year. The line must be held on spending by starting no new programs and being careful about adding additional funds or personnel to current operations. Prudence and retrenchment should be the watchwords.
No matter how worthwhile increases may be at the moment, we must keep focused on the fact that revenue next year may be tighter than this year. Terminating or cutting back on a program is far more painful than not starting the program in the first place.
Therefore, any increases - even for popular programs such as the Aiken County EMS, the proposed animal shelter expansion or junk yard fences - should be carefully considered. If additional spending is truly necessary, then County Council should phase-fund the spending over two or three years instead of committing to it all at once. New spending in critical areas should be offset by reductions in less critical areas.
Again, going halfway out onto a limb exposes both the county and the taxpayers less than rushing out to the tip in one bound. The further out we go, the harder it is to pull back.
The art of governance is about making choices between limited resources and unlimited wants and needs. At this point in time, saying "no" is far more fiscally prudent than saying "yes." We shouldn't commit to anything today that we may have trouble paying for tomorrow.
Gary Bunker is a member of Aiken County Council representing District 7.''
Foxnews Ticker
Monday, January 5, 2009
Friday, January 2, 2009
Recorded Votes - Part Two
I applaud Jane Vaughters for her stance in support of recorded votes at our State Legislature. It is inconceivable that we have Republican leaders in the South Carolina House and Senate who openly oppose the right of South Carolina voters to see how their Legislators vote on critical issues. While Representative Smith took the criticism personally, it was aimed at the entire Aiken delegation. His vote was easy to determine; if he had not supported to increase the power of Bobby Harrell, he would not have been appointed/elected as a committee chair. We know nothing about other members of the Aiken Delegation. Perhaps they could write their own letter to the editor or even better, perhaps the Aiken Standard could start doing what a newspaper should do; report on issues of importance to the Aiken community.
I am always suspicious of politicians with something to hide. I wonder how many of then ran on the slogan “VOTE FOR ME AND I WON’T TELL YOU HOW I VOTED”. Had they done so, they would probably not have been elected.
Voters should realize that a great part of our current fiscal turmoil is caused by our State Legislators who have fought Governor Sanford over budget issues for his entire time in office. Their uncontrolled spending has put us in our current mess. Had they put money in a “rainy day” fund as recommended numerous times by the Governor, our current financial problems would not have been so bad. It especially onerous on our education community and is now beginning to affect nearly everyone in the State. Residents should put the blame where it belongs.
We need to stop the practice of a Legislator voting one way and telling his constituents he voted the opposite way. They need to take the blame and credit for their votes. The best way to accomplish this task is to have recorded votes which are clearly visible to voters throughout the State.
I am always suspicious of politicians with something to hide. I wonder how many of then ran on the slogan “VOTE FOR ME AND I WON’T TELL YOU HOW I VOTED”. Had they done so, they would probably not have been elected.
Voters should realize that a great part of our current fiscal turmoil is caused by our State Legislators who have fought Governor Sanford over budget issues for his entire time in office. Their uncontrolled spending has put us in our current mess. Had they put money in a “rainy day” fund as recommended numerous times by the Governor, our current financial problems would not have been so bad. It especially onerous on our education community and is now beginning to affect nearly everyone in the State. Residents should put the blame where it belongs.
We need to stop the practice of a Legislator voting one way and telling his constituents he voted the opposite way. They need to take the blame and credit for their votes. The best way to accomplish this task is to have recorded votes which are clearly visible to voters throughout the State.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Who was hurt by election calls?
My letter to the editor concerning yesterday's editorial was published in the Aiken Standard today. Thanks to Jeff Wallace for his timely action.
"Who was hurt by election calls?"
"With reference to the editorial concerning election law violations I agree completely that "it is time that laws dealing with election mischief are dealt with as felonies." However, I most emphatically disagree with your statement that the "intended result of the election-eve deception was not realized." Except for Ginny Allen and her-up- till-now undisclosed co-conspirators none of us can know for sure what the intended result was. It should be quite clear to the objective observer that the only person hurt by this reprehensible ploy was Scott Singer. Certainly there was no chance it would in any way affect the outcome of the Whinghter-Ryberg race since the polls showed Ryberg with more than 70 percent of the voters backing him. Ginny Allen, as an astute political operative, certainly knew that a last-minute attempt to hurt Senator Ryberg would be a waste of time and money.
The facts are that Senator Ryberg, upon learning about the fraudulent calls, immediately issued an angry statement denying any responsibility for them and denied supporting any candidate. Senator Ryberg also requested SLED to investigate. As a consequence of this angry statement many voters may have assumed that Scott Singer had sponsored the calls. To correct this misapprehension Senator Ryberg issued another statement on June 12, wherein he "declared his belief that the other candidate for office mentioned in the illegal call, County Councilman Scott Singer, was not involved in the phone call." For some reason this statement was never published in the Aiken Standard. Meanwhile critics used this spurious charge to cut into Singer's well deserved good reputation and high favorability ratings.
I for one am glad SLED has investigated and is continuing to investigate this matter. Let us wait until all the facts are in before we rush to judgment as to the effectiveness of the calls."
"Who was hurt by election calls?"
"With reference to the editorial concerning election law violations I agree completely that "it is time that laws dealing with election mischief are dealt with as felonies." However, I most emphatically disagree with your statement that the "intended result of the election-eve deception was not realized." Except for Ginny Allen and her-up- till-now undisclosed co-conspirators none of us can know for sure what the intended result was. It should be quite clear to the objective observer that the only person hurt by this reprehensible ploy was Scott Singer. Certainly there was no chance it would in any way affect the outcome of the Whinghter-Ryberg race since the polls showed Ryberg with more than 70 percent of the voters backing him. Ginny Allen, as an astute political operative, certainly knew that a last-minute attempt to hurt Senator Ryberg would be a waste of time and money.
The facts are that Senator Ryberg, upon learning about the fraudulent calls, immediately issued an angry statement denying any responsibility for them and denied supporting any candidate. Senator Ryberg also requested SLED to investigate. As a consequence of this angry statement many voters may have assumed that Scott Singer had sponsored the calls. To correct this misapprehension Senator Ryberg issued another statement on June 12, wherein he "declared his belief that the other candidate for office mentioned in the illegal call, County Councilman Scott Singer, was not involved in the phone call." For some reason this statement was never published in the Aiken Standard. Meanwhile critics used this spurious charge to cut into Singer's well deserved good reputation and high favorability ratings.
I for one am glad SLED has investigated and is continuing to investigate this matter. Let us wait until all the facts are in before we rush to judgment as to the effectiveness of the calls."
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Beautiful Downtown Aiken
The following was a special enclosure in the Aiken Standard a few weeks ago and I thought it was very well done. I know that not everyone subscribes to the Aiken Standard and those who don't would not have seen this so I am posting it here.Just click on the link if you want to view it in full size.
Downtown Paper
Downtown Paper
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Aiken Political Operative Arrested
The following is another painful example of how far politicos will go to help their preferred candidate win an election.
In addition to the Aiken Standard article I suggest that readers check out the press release on the SLED website. December 16- Aiken County Woman charged----
The following story has been updated and can be read at:.http://www.aikenstandard.com/Local/1217GinnyAllenArrested
Check out the on line comments. It appears that law observance is unimportant to many of Ginnies supporters. Four comments sound familiar and were presumably made by the same cast of characters that produced the now defunct Easy Whiskey and the comatose Kaolin Kronicle aka as the Kremlin Kronicle.
BREAKING NEWS
FROM THE AIKEN STANDARD ONLINE
"Charges brought in robocall case"
12/16/2008 3:05 PM
By KAREN DAILY
Staff writer
State Law Enforcement Division agents have arrested Aiken County GOP treasurer Virginia Austin Allen, 47, for her alleged role in orchestrating a number of automated phone calls earlier this summer that endorsed S.C. Sen. Greg Ryberg and then S.C. House District 81 seat candidate Scott Singer.
The calls showed Ryberg’s business office number as the origin of the calls, but Ryberg said he did not pay for, place or authorize them, denying any connection to the “robo calls.”
Singer also denies any connection to the calls.
Allen is charged with six counts of unlawful use of a telephone.
She was booked at the Aiken County detention center and released on her own personal recognizance.
State agents will be releasing arrest warrants today, according to officials.
Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com
In addition to the Aiken Standard article I suggest that readers check out the press release on the SLED website. December 16- Aiken County Woman charged----
The following story has been updated and can be read at:.http://www.aikenstandard.com/Local/1217GinnyAllenArrested
Check out the on line comments. It appears that law observance is unimportant to many of Ginnies supporters. Four comments sound familiar and were presumably made by the same cast of characters that produced the now defunct Easy Whiskey and the comatose Kaolin Kronicle aka as the Kremlin Kronicle.
BREAKING NEWS
FROM THE AIKEN STANDARD ONLINE
"Charges brought in robocall case"
12/16/2008 3:05 PM
By KAREN DAILY
Staff writer
State Law Enforcement Division agents have arrested Aiken County GOP treasurer Virginia Austin Allen, 47, for her alleged role in orchestrating a number of automated phone calls earlier this summer that endorsed S.C. Sen. Greg Ryberg and then S.C. House District 81 seat candidate Scott Singer.
The calls showed Ryberg’s business office number as the origin of the calls, but Ryberg said he did not pay for, place or authorize them, denying any connection to the “robo calls.”
Singer also denies any connection to the calls.
Allen is charged with six counts of unlawful use of a telephone.
She was booked at the Aiken County detention center and released on her own personal recognizance.
State agents will be releasing arrest warrants today, according to officials.
Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com
House votes need to be recorded
The following letter from Jane Vaughters appeared in the Aiken Standard today.
"House votes need to be recorded"
"I was glad to see your editorial supporting recording votes in the state legislature so for the first time taxpayers could know how their representatives vote. Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell has once again kept this from happening.
What puzzled me was that you did not take the next obvious step and poll our delegation to see where they stand. Again, their positions were not recorded. I noticed that one House member has been appointed to a committee chairmanship by Speaker Harrell so we have a clue there. How about a survey of each member of the delegation with these specific quetions 1)Do you support Speaker Harrell's policies which hide votes from the people?
2) What are you actually doing to allow votes to be recorded for all taxpayers to see?
The press will need to be of help and ask some hard questions before this system which caters to special interests will change.
Jane Vaughters
Aiken"
"House votes need to be recorded"
"I was glad to see your editorial supporting recording votes in the state legislature so for the first time taxpayers could know how their representatives vote. Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell has once again kept this from happening.
What puzzled me was that you did not take the next obvious step and poll our delegation to see where they stand. Again, their positions were not recorded. I noticed that one House member has been appointed to a committee chairmanship by Speaker Harrell so we have a clue there. How about a survey of each member of the delegation with these specific quetions 1)Do you support Speaker Harrell's policies which hide votes from the people?
2) What are you actually doing to allow votes to be recorded for all taxpayers to see?
The press will need to be of help and ask some hard questions before this system which caters to special interests will change.
Jane Vaughters
Aiken"
Friday, December 12, 2008
Senate Leader Files Roll Call Bill
Senate leader files roll call bill
By SEANNA ADCOX Associated Press
COLUMBIA -- A continued push to increase the accountability of South Carolina lawmakers and cap government spending were among 180 proposals senators filed Wednesday for the upcoming legislative session.Republicans who control the Senate said the two issues will be a priority next year.
Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler filed a bill calling for more roll call votes in the Senate, mirroring one filed a day earlier in the House. Both chambers are allowing members to introduce bills ahead of the Jan. 13 start of the two-year session. Roll call votes record every lawmaker's decision on a proposal. That's in contrast to voice votes. Peeler says he's lined up 20 Senate co-sponsors and expects to get four more votes needed to get the bill out of the Senate and included in the chamber's rules."Transparency is clearly needed in South Carolina," the Gaffney Republican said.But he faces resistance within his own party.
Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell said he'll fight the bill "with every bit of energy I've got," calling it a waste of time and money. The Charleston Republican, who heads the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, said he will push instead for a change to Senate rules, requiring roll call voting for budgetary and contested measures. The specifics are still being worked out.
The House adopted rules last week that have come under question because they record every lawmaker as voting yes. Those who shout "nay" or those absent at the time must head to the clerk's desk to be properly recorded. Critics say it creates an inaccurate picture of support for legislation. Peeler said the Senate won't adopt anything like that. McConnell said that while Peeler's plan plays well publicly, roll call voting on every bill, including those without disagreement, would create gridlock in the Senate. He also called Peeler's proposal a "lawyer employability act," saying it would lead to lawsuits in which people claim procedure wasn't followed on laws they don't like.
Peeler said it may be time to consider electronic voting. In the Senate, roll call votes are handled by voice, with each of the 46 names called and those present answering. In the House, 124 members push a button and vote electronically."That's the main pushback I've received," Peeler said. "This thing is really going to take up time." But McConnell countered that made no sense."In a recession, with all of state government suffering, is not the time to be buying a voting machine for the Senate," he said.
McConnell refiled a proposed constitutional amendment that would curb state spending in surplus years and sock away extra money for lean times. Under the legislation, state spending could grow by no more than the 10-year average of the growth in population and personal income. Earlier this year, the amendment fell short of the two-thirds majority needed in the Senate by one vote."The beauty of it is in good times, it does not allow you to go on a spending binge," McConnell said. "In down years, the money is flowing back into coffers to pay the bills, rather than us hiring one year and firing the next."Other bills refiled by McConnell include one requiring state and local governments to print documents only in English, a proposal that won approval in the Senate earlier this year but died in the House.Democratic Sens. Darrell Jackson, of Hopkins, and Joel Lourie, of Columbia, proposed separate bills allowing residents to vote early in person, without needing an excuse. Jackson also wants to bar students from dropping out of school before they turn 18, instead of before age 17. But it was Sen. Robert Ford, D-Charleston, who prefiled the most proposals, with 65 -- accounting for more than one-third of measures filed so far. Those include bills that would bar smoking in bars and restaurants -- an idea that died last session, prohibit restaurants from selling food containing trans fats, allow same-sex couples to enter into civil unions, and make it illegal for people to wear pants that sag more than 3 inches below their hips.
By SEANNA ADCOX Associated Press
COLUMBIA -- A continued push to increase the accountability of South Carolina lawmakers and cap government spending were among 180 proposals senators filed Wednesday for the upcoming legislative session.Republicans who control the Senate said the two issues will be a priority next year.
Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler filed a bill calling for more roll call votes in the Senate, mirroring one filed a day earlier in the House. Both chambers are allowing members to introduce bills ahead of the Jan. 13 start of the two-year session. Roll call votes record every lawmaker's decision on a proposal. That's in contrast to voice votes. Peeler says he's lined up 20 Senate co-sponsors and expects to get four more votes needed to get the bill out of the Senate and included in the chamber's rules."Transparency is clearly needed in South Carolina," the Gaffney Republican said.But he faces resistance within his own party.
Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell said he'll fight the bill "with every bit of energy I've got," calling it a waste of time and money. The Charleston Republican, who heads the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, said he will push instead for a change to Senate rules, requiring roll call voting for budgetary and contested measures. The specifics are still being worked out.
The House adopted rules last week that have come under question because they record every lawmaker as voting yes. Those who shout "nay" or those absent at the time must head to the clerk's desk to be properly recorded. Critics say it creates an inaccurate picture of support for legislation. Peeler said the Senate won't adopt anything like that. McConnell said that while Peeler's plan plays well publicly, roll call voting on every bill, including those without disagreement, would create gridlock in the Senate. He also called Peeler's proposal a "lawyer employability act," saying it would lead to lawsuits in which people claim procedure wasn't followed on laws they don't like.
Peeler said it may be time to consider electronic voting. In the Senate, roll call votes are handled by voice, with each of the 46 names called and those present answering. In the House, 124 members push a button and vote electronically."That's the main pushback I've received," Peeler said. "This thing is really going to take up time." But McConnell countered that made no sense."In a recession, with all of state government suffering, is not the time to be buying a voting machine for the Senate," he said.
McConnell refiled a proposed constitutional amendment that would curb state spending in surplus years and sock away extra money for lean times. Under the legislation, state spending could grow by no more than the 10-year average of the growth in population and personal income. Earlier this year, the amendment fell short of the two-thirds majority needed in the Senate by one vote."The beauty of it is in good times, it does not allow you to go on a spending binge," McConnell said. "In down years, the money is flowing back into coffers to pay the bills, rather than us hiring one year and firing the next."Other bills refiled by McConnell include one requiring state and local governments to print documents only in English, a proposal that won approval in the Senate earlier this year but died in the House.Democratic Sens. Darrell Jackson, of Hopkins, and Joel Lourie, of Columbia, proposed separate bills allowing residents to vote early in person, without needing an excuse. Jackson also wants to bar students from dropping out of school before they turn 18, instead of before age 17. But it was Sen. Robert Ford, D-Charleston, who prefiled the most proposals, with 65 -- accounting for more than one-third of measures filed so far. Those include bills that would bar smoking in bars and restaurants -- an idea that died last session, prohibit restaurants from selling food containing trans fats, allow same-sex couples to enter into civil unions, and make it illegal for people to wear pants that sag more than 3 inches below their hips.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Give the Gift of Life
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM:
Linda Taylor
SC Community Relations Coordinator
353 Fabian Drive (near SteinMart)
Aiken, Sc 29803
ltaylor@shepeardblood,org
803.617.0007 office
706.339.5345 mobile
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Local People Save Lives, Receive Gifts
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Linda Petersen – GA Community Relations, (706) 339-5543, lpetersen@shepeardblood.org
Linda Taylor – SC Community Relations, (803) 643-7996, ltaylor@shepeardblood.org
Augusta, GA – Critically ill patients at our local hospitals may not know your name but they will never forget your gift of life.
In this season of giving, imagine giving the unforgettable gift of good health and winning an unforgettable gift for you! That is what is happening at Shepeard Community Blood Center blood drives and centers this December. One winner each week will choose from the following Unforgettable Gifts:
$1,000 Pre-paid Visa Gift Card
Plasma TV
MacBook Laptop
Our first Unforgettable Gift winner is Tom Paquette. Mr. Paquette is a faithful volunteer platelet donor at Shepeard West, Shepeard’s Platelet and Plasma Center, at 112 Davis Road in Martinez. Tom chose the $1,000 Pre-paid Visa Gift Card for his Unforgettable Gift. What gift will you choose?
Congratulations to the following people who won $500 Visa Gift Cards in our November drawings:
· Tammyria Jennings of Augusta who visited the Richmond County Board of Education Blood Drive
Stacey Timmerman of North Augusta who visited the blood drive at Savannah River Site, Lower B Area
· Virginia Fox of Martinez who donated at Shepeard’s Center at 460 North Belair Road in Evans
· Russell Carter, Jr. of Warrenton, GA who presented to donate at Kimberly Clark
Platelets are the clotting part of blood. Platelets are used for cancer, transplants, and other critical injuries and illnesses. To learn more about donating platelets like Tom Paquette, our first Unforgettable Gift Winner, contact Vanessa Childs, Special Donations Coordinator: (706) 737-4551 or vchilds@shepeardblood.org
To find a place to donate with Shepeard this holiday season:
http://www.shepeardblood.org/ GA: (706) 737-4551 SC: (803) 643-7996
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