Flux?

The headline in yesterday's Hernando Times read, "County Budget Still in Flux" which was about the uncertainty of this year's county budget. Has anyone stopped to consider that the budget has probably already been decided by the hierarchy at the county government. If this wasn't the case, then why did the county administrator cancel the Hernando County Budget and Finance Committee meeting for July. The administrator also received approval by the Commission Chairman David Russell to take a three week vacation in July which is normally the busiest time tying up the loose ends on the yearly budget review.

The reporter, Barbara Behrendt, stated in this story that this Tuesday's BCC meeting included money-saving information for the commissioners to review about the Hernando County Housing Authority. Her article stated that the housing authority "will consider" moving from their space in downtown Brooksville to the Development Department on SR50. This is information is probably in the agenda but it is apparent that the reporter did not verify her facts for this story. The Hernando County Housing Authority already moved to the SR50 location about a month ago. Anyway,this is a mute point about the housing authority saving the county money. The Hernando County Housing Authority operates with their own budget, comprised of state and federal tax dollars, and does not directly impact the county general fund budget. Maybe her story should have focused on the slight of hand and the lack of transparency in our local government budgetary process this year!