Editorial: Taxpayers, remind our rulers what ?cut? means

“I encourage people to speak up through meetings, e-mails and letters,” Zimmer told reporter Kelsey Volkmann for a story on the annual budget.

Tonight is the first of three meetings and a public hearing on the budget before adoption May 22.

It is a tough budget, which for government generally means reductions in the proposed increases. That is what those who govern us refer to as “cuts.”

For the school budget, these commissioners wisely left the details of a $3.6 million increase reduction to the school board. Taxpayers still are picking up the $73.8 million tab for a new high schoolin Manchester, even though Budget Director Ted Zaleski?s recommended budget did not have it because enrollment projections do not support it.

Commissioners are looking for $3 million from retired county employees? health insurance funding, and another $3 million from money earmarked to buy reservoir land.

“There still are opportunities for adjustments,” Zimmer said in encouraging citizens involvement.

That refreshing message should be repeated by every elected official from White House to town. Why we citizens of these United States of America, who are guaranteed the most power over our government of any people in history, so negligently forego it is beyond comprehension.

We just wait for our taxes to go up, then complain. So taxes just keep going up and up and up, and those who govern us increasingly lose touch with reality.

How so? Well, for example, that “cut” thing. When we beleaguered taxpayers have to cut our personal spending ? because, say, our taxes have gone up ? we have to actually spend less.

At all levels of government, a “cut” means spending is going to increase 5 percent instead of 10 percent. Only in the surreal world of government finance can a spending increase be called a cut.

This word even weasels its way into news reports and, because it is short, headlines. The fact of the matter is government never cuts because government always has the power to merely extort more money from the people. Any of us who decide we?re not getting our money?s worth are free to lose our homes, businesses and, ultimately, our freedom.

That is why the average American works more than five months of every year just to support governments.

It is why we all should heed the words of Zimmer and show up. If nothing else, we can as a point of order remind our rulers repeatedly what the word “cut” really means.

Carroll Budget Hearings

All meetings at 7 p.m.

» Tonight: Mount Airy Senior Center

» Tuesday: Taneytown Senior Center.

» Thursday: County government offices.

» May 2: Public Hearing. Carroll Community College.

» May 22: Budget adoption