Once again Chisago County commissioners voted to spend money taxpayers don’t have. At the July 5th county board meeting, commissioners voted unanimously to purchase two new Cat 938K front-end loaders for the county Public Works Department at a cost of $385,980.
This extravagant purchase comes on the heels of an “Early Retirement Incentive Program” resolution enacted at the June 20th county board meeting. The resolution, effective July 1st, is intended to circumvent a projected $2,000,000 budget shortfall in fiscal 2013 by financially enticing county employees to retire early. Those employees accepting the early retirement offer would continue to receive health and dental benefits or the cash equivalent for as long as one year after their voluntary retirement. Under the terms of the “Employee Separation Agreement,” they would likely be eligible for unemployment benefits as well.
Given the dismal economic climate, can Chisago County taxpayers afford such incessant fiscal irresponsibility? Isn’t it time to hoist anchor and vote out the incumbents who spend, spend, spend, spend, and spend?
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