It is pretty rare for Orlando Sentinel commentator Lauren Ritchie to criticize Lake County officials, but she did it below in the two part series regarding the County Commission hearings about budget reductions. Part two of her series will not appear until this Wednesday, the 18th. Basically, in part one, Ritchie complained that social programs were being cut, but not County staff, railing at the size of the six person public relations department (which create a great website!). I happen to like visiting the Trout Lake Center for talks and cultural events, and when Ritchie said the County staff was not planning on any internal cuts, but only to outside agencies like Trout Lake, I got fired up. Ritchie DID make a very good point - most County proposals were NOT CUTS in spending, but just maintaining current spending levels and cutting social services to outside organizations, plus the use of an excess, hidden reserve for health insurance costs. In a period where County investors (i.e. taxpayers) are going though financial grief, the County staff seems unwilling to incur any cost reduction pain like the taxpayers are going though. That is like Merrill Lynch giving millions in bonuses to staff...
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