Smoke & Mirrors

If you wonder why your property taxes are so high, take a look at the packet for the February 21st County Board meeting - all 253 pages of it. Then try to estimate the cost of all the paperwork in the packet. How many tens of thousands of dollars of lawyers' fees and employee time go into producing such a massive document. And that's just for one meeting!

Do you think that all 24 members of the County Board have read it? Some of it? Any of it?

For example, on Page 189 is a resolution about SCAAP - the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program. What the heck is that?

The sheriff's department is about to receive $100,820 from the U.S. Department of Justice for housing criminal aliens in the County Jail.

But the resolutio also includes provides $69,820 for undefined "security equipment" and $31,000 for a vehicle (not described anywhere in the resolution).

Will the County Board just approve the second $100,000 without asking any questions? Is the white Tahoe worn out? What "vehicle" is to be bought for $31,000? From whom? For the department pool? Or for one of the deputies or commanders? Through the State purchasing contract? Is that equipped, or will another $10K be spent to put it on the road?