The Chatham County Commissioners (BOC) voted 3-2 along party lines to ditch the normal budgeting process and pass the FY2011/12 budget today. An Environmental Review Board (ERB) member later tweeted this is "not democracy".  The BOC usually takes several day-long sessions to finish work on its budget, but this year the process was short circuited.  The Republican majority of the Chatham County Board of Commissioners approved the FY 2011/12 county budget within the first three hours of day one of four planned budget work sessions. The remaining three and a half days of budget deliberations referenced in this week's Chatham Record were immediately cancelled. 

The Commissioners held two well-attended public input sessions last week in Pittsboro and Siler City regarding the FY 2011/12 budget. A majority of the speakers requested that the commissioners reconsider some of the proposed cuts---especially since the County does not have a fiscal crisis and needs to help create jobs not eliminate them.  

Given the public input and the importance of this year's budget, logic would dictate that the elected officials would publicly pour over the budget with staff, suggest any final additions and/or cuts before blessing a budget that will set the direction of the County for the next fiscal year. Logic lost.  After about an hour's worth of discussion and nit-picking with the school staff and Board of Education regarding the school budget, the BOC took a break. Upon return, Commissioner Pam Stewart cut to the chase and made a motion which was seconded by Vice-Chair Walter Petty to approve the county budget. After objections from former BOC Chair Sally Kost, the budget was approved 3-2 at 11:18 a.m. with little discussion and no more work required.

Republican activist and blogger, Heather Johnson immediately posted "It is over. We can move on. No surprises."   

Traditionally, budget work sessions give commissioners a chance to discuss issues with county department heads and staff---some not directly tied to the budget.  "I have always found these sessions extremely useful in understanding the challenges that our departments are facing," said Sally Kost, who voted against the rushed approval.  "I am better able to serve citizens in this community and address their issues when I know more about what the county is facing."

Kost also explained that she had been working on a proposal that would restore the school per pupil funding, partially restore the bookmobile service, restore funding for senior programs, make additional cuts, and perhaps even present a lower tax rate than what was presented.  But the new Board Majority said they were happy with the budget as presented.

"I believe that the majority of the Board of Commissioners has done a huge disservice to the citizens and also to themselves," Kost said. 

During discussions Commissioner Mike Cross, who voted against the budget, noted that this was an opportunity for the new commissioners to learn more about county government. 

"I am appalled and have never seen such a hasty decision in my many years of budget work " Kost said.  Before retiring, Kost worked as a budget professional for more than twenty years in the Triangle.  "We should be discussing the budget publicly and in the open and addressing concerns that we heard at the public hearings," Kost added in response to a comment made by Commissioner Petty, who said that he had talked to county department heads and was satisfied with the budget.

Please let our county Commissioners and the local media know what you think of this truncated budget process:  

Chatham County Democratic Party