K.I.S.S.

What does this little acronym mean? Back in my military days;
it went something like this: Keep It Simple Stupid. I know we aren’t supposed to use the word stupid anymore, but if it is apt to the situation then I don’t see the problem.
In the county commission meeting I attended on February 18th the Chairman admitted he had begun to realize how little he knew and understood of what former finance director Dave Bennett and
bond agent Ayers of Regions Financial had informed the commission of with regards to the county budget for the last few years. Finance is complicated, especially when you get into derivatives, and rate swaps,
and on demand bonds. I’m not saying I understand it either. I’m saying that up front. Jim Folts has helped some, but I still have much to learn.
If something is so complicated that you can’t understand it, then don’t vote to approve it. At the very least get someone who can explain it to you before you do! There are a lot of things in contracts that I haven’t understood when it came to financing my home or my vehicles. I have had someone explain them to me. I ask about early payoff penalties or transfer fees. I want to know what something is going to cost me before I ever sign on the dotted line because I am the one who is going to have to make the payments. It appears these things were never done with a majority of the financial decisions of the current commission.
Can we do better? This is a valid question when you realize the amount of debt the county has, and that a 46.5 million dollar payment is due next year. Using information provided by The Daily Times, I have been enlightened to the fact that the county has over 61 million dollars of payments due next year on a budget of just over 40 million in the general fund. Something must be done.
We could all pay an extra $5000 of property tax next year. I haven’t found anyone who is willing to do so. Most people I’ve spoken to don’t have the means to do so. One suggestion I have is to pay out a five year bond at 5% fixed interest sold through the local banks. That is a better yield than thousands of people in our county can get on a five year fixed CD (Certificate of Deposit). Another suggestion is figuring out where we can cut waste out of our spending. Some departments of county government do an excellent job overseeing the funds they use. Some do not. In addition, nonprofit entities in the
county should not be funded with taxpayer money.
Due to the contracts currently signed, and the legalities of their binding, I do not know for sure what can be done. I would like to see Dave Bennett and Regions Financial held liable for the poor advice they have given the county in the last four years. I am interested in hearing what plans the new financial director has for reigning in the excessive spending of the current administration. I would like all of it in simple and specific terms.
Keep It Simple Studiously. When I was in public speaking class I was taught there are three parts to a speech. Tell them what you are going to tell them, tell them, and then tell them what you told them. I want all of the citizens of Blount County to understand how we are going to get out of the mess this administration has created. The interest and fees we are paying each year could be better used in a variety of manners in this county.
Speaking of questionable financing, I would like to see the 8 million dollar shortfall from the education budget in the past four years returned to it. While we now have an 11 million surplus in the general fund, I don’t think education should have been robbed to
accomplish this.
I urge everyone reading this to take a serious look at your candidates, their motives, and what they have accomplished in the past four years, positively, or negatively, then decide whom you will support in the upcoming primary.

Jerry L. Harvey Candidate District 4 Seat A