Chairman Larry Henry said, "That is an astronomical amount. There could be and should be a more efficient and cost-saving way to do things."

Mr. Henry, many of us would like for you to take this kind of stand with the school board. In comparison, the back tax attorney is paid less than most in the state. We have some in the education system that cannot give ANY results for the money they cost the taxpayers. Maybe you should have taken this stand before voting for the last tax increase.

Where were you when the patients and taxpayers were hit for $40,000,000 with no explanation by Erlanger. If you are truly looking for waste, there are way bigger areas of waste than the trustee's office. This is a classic example of making a mountain out of a mole hill.

We, the taxpayers, will be waiting to see your tight financial attitude put into practice in the near future, but don't expect us to hold our breath. Seems politics as usual. Next, maybe the SRO that the sheriff promised. Maybe you can help him find the waste to put them back in the schools.

N.D. Kennedy Sr.
n_kennedy@bellsouth.net

* * *

Thank you, Mr. Kennedy, for expressing the sentiments many of us hold about this particular wagon that so many of our county commissioners seem willing to climb into. It would seem that the back tax collections attorney costs Hamilton County taxpayers less than the FIRST YEAR INCREASE for our new Superintendent of Schools. Repeat for emphasis, the first year increase...and this is all that has been advertised in the media.

It certainly isn't proper for a contractor to be using the facilities or resources of the county in the performance of their contractual duties, unless there are some financial concessions being made to compensate the county for them, but isn't Mr. Terry McGhehey being paid a percentage of what he collects? If he's being paid solely upon his collections, isn't that kind of like being paid a commission on sales? Wouldn't it, therefore, be a fair statement that if he does nothing he gets paid nothing...in other words, no worky no checky?

Perhaps the rate is a bit steep, but the County Commission would be well advised not to put this gentleman in the position of a salesman with a $20,000 annual salary and a $2,000,000 nut to crack every year. Keep in mind, the more money he earns the more money the county is collecting.

But then...that would be a reasonable and logical method of compensation based upon productivity as those who work in the real world are expected to do. Correction, that's what people who are required to produce a commodity other than hot air are expected to do.

Royce E. Burrage, Jr.
RBurrage@bellsouth.net