OPINION: Warren County Board of Supervisors has a problem with prioritizing projects

Warren County Board of Supervisors has a problem with prioritizing projects. Having worked in private business and managing millions of dollars in annual budgets, it appears that we approach things very differently. I had to deal with a fixed budget and make my expenditures fit a budget. The Warren County Board set the expenditures and raise taxes to cover those cost without regard of what the tax base can support or its justification. Do they even calculate what each project will cost tax payers? Does the County Administrator give any guidance?

In recent years, more and more projects and expenditures have been added that cannot be justified by our tax base. We all would like to have more things from our government, but at what cost? All projects should be guided by our tax base and the ability to support them without unreasonable tax increases.

Part of my job was to set staffing levels. I find myself observing the numbers of people doing certain tasks. A recent letter about the Sheriffs department staffing was spot on! I have observed a ridiculous number of employees doing jobs that need only one or two people. Who sets staffing level for the county? Are staffing level compared to similar jurisdictions? Are the different branches required to justify staffing? Every branch of county government needs oversite in staffing and expenditures.

Harry Reed
Front Royal, Virginia