Cook County News Herald

Wants versus needs


Some years ago, while driving down the interstate, I had to chuckle a bit at a bumper sticker ahead of me. It read: IF YOU’RE NOT OUTRAGED, YOU’RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION!

Then a few years ago my wife and I moved up to this area on a piece of land that we’ve paid taxes on for over 30 years. Since then, we’ve met enough homegrown residents and others like ourselves who moved up to an area of the state that we all love. At some point, conversations always turn to tax burdens and how money is spent on the county level. Many of these people are concerned about things like projected building projects, overly generous county salaries, previous fiascos, and high levies.

And at times it seems that some of those in charge of the county coffers act like bobble heads playing with Monopoly money. Those taxpayers either living on fixed incomes or working in the private sector understand needs verses wants and budget accordingly.

That being said, there are signs that more residents are taking note of past expenditures and future proposals. But it takes a majority of vigilant citizens to keep the ill-considered spending in check because if you’re paying taxes in this county and you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention!

Ron Wizykoski
Hovland

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