Cook County News Herald

Do the math on government spending




Is anyone else doing the math on the spending by both the county and the school? The following spending increases have been discussed:

County:

County administrator
salary plus benefits: $150,000
Administrator secretary
salary plus benefits: $40,000
Remodeling courthouse: $15,000
Locker room for school: $10,000
Sentence to Serve: $116,311
2 expanded jobs-PHHS
salaries plus benefits $10,000
Total: $341,311

School:

New principal
salary plus benefits $100,000
Remodel offices $50,000
Total $150,000

This is getting very close to $500,000 and this is one week’s spending. Not included are the assistant to the assessor hire and the road and bridge spending which are very recent.

As a reminder, we have the hospital busy drawing plans for a remodel/update/expansion— the hospital board has the authority to levy independently. This could have been covered by the 1 percent money if plans had been made prior to redirecting the funds to the YMCA.

And then there is the new community center which is operating on the “build it and they will come” philosophy. There is yet to be a fiscally responsible explanation of how this is to be operated and maintained.

Another question for commissioners—what is the estimate for homeowners for the expense of the new septic ordinance? What’s the charge for someone to design an outhouse? How many new hires are needed to enforce this ordinance?

When you question why enrollment is declining, the answer is simple. Young people can’t afford to live here.

Judy Motschenbacher
Lutsen



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