MONKEYING AROUND WITH THE BUDGETThere is a deficit in the county budget, they say. In a recent news release, Bob Balink, El Paso County clerk and recorder, told the board of commissioners that it’s time to be “forthright with taxpayers and to share the news … that county services will continue to deteriorate … public safety is in serious jeopardy.”That’s interesting because when the county is in the hot seat for something like a faulty truck part that causes a fatal accident, officials insist that safety is first and all is well. And when did county services start to deteriorate?At the same meeting, the options for cutting the 2007 budget were discussed. Eliminating the cost-of-living raises for county employees, reducing janitorial services, postponing repairs on equipment, eliminating the sheriff’s work release program, etc. were a few of the ideas brought to the table.Monkey crew to the rescue: Consider the following:*Instead of a 38-percent pay raise (current pay around $63,000) for new county commissioners – what about an hourly rate for time spent at county board meetings and time spent on county issues?*Tighten budgets for amenities like cell phones, cars and travel reimbursement.*Further audits of the state sales tax monies to ensure that more than a half million dollars is not handed out to the wrong county.*Eliminate golden parachutes, severance agreements that are currently listed in the contracts of the county attorney, county administrator and county human services director, or hire a paralegal (contract with an attorney when necessary) and eliminate the county administrator’s position.APE OVER YOU … NRAThe El Paso County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution designating Sept. 22 as Friends of NRA (National Rifle Association) Day in El Paso County.”It is important to support groups like Friends of NRA that work hard to give back to the community. This year, the local chapter has provided 38 grants totaling $132,000. Of these, 30 were programs for our youth,” said El Paso Board of County Commissioners Chair Sallie Clark.Perhaps they can donate to maintain the salaries of county commissioners who spend time on these important resolutions.INTELLIGENT DESIGN? IT HAS TO BE – NO MONKEY WOULD ACT LIKE THIS.Before Tacoma, Wash., Superior Court Judge Beverly Grant pronounced a sentence for a man found guilty of first-degree manslaughter, she switched to her cheerleader persona and led the 100-plus people in the court room in saluting the Seattle Seahawks. “Go Seahawks,” she shouted. Dissatisfied with the response, she yelled, “You can do better than that; one, two, three … go Seahawks.”Not that it mattered, but the date of sentencing also coincided with the date of the murder, and the victim’s family was present when the judge turned cheerleader.Monkeys would look good in those black robes!
