Dear Mr. Warner:
I am responding to your question posted in the JG editorial (7/8/2008) as to why the local Democratic Party was unable to field candidates to run for various Allen County offices up for election in November.
Let me enlighten you. When some local fellow Democrats engage in “attack to distract” with the purpose of painting an elected official’s right to information as ignorant or amateurish - the public takes note and refuses to engage in the political process whether it is to vote or seek political office. There is a general public perception that politicians are dishonest and are only out for themselves and those who support them. For those who cross the “establishment” or “inner circle”, they are penalized by being ridiculed or discredited in the public forum. Sound familiar?
For the record, some key responsibilities of the Wayne Township Board are to set salaries, set the tax levy, approve contracts, and approve the annual budget among other things. The annual budget approval is due in September and Trustee Stevenson is justifying a 500% year-to-year shortfall (from $400,000 to $2 million), with a 40% increase in poor relief requests. Stevenson will also be asking the Wayne Township Board for approval to request a permanent levy increase raising Wayne Township property taxes to pay for his operational cash shortfall at the end of this year and future years’ cash shortfalls. The current budgetary numbers show that almost 50% of the poor relief budget goes to the salaries and healthcare for employees of Wayne Township. This is Stevenson’s second yearly request for additional property tax revenue; last December he asked to increase the Wayne Township tax levy by 100% to cover a year-end shortfall. I stand by my request for information to verify budget line items’ expenditures; anything less would be irresponsible to the taxpayers of Wayne Township.
I believe the taxpayers deserve a thorough analysis of the Trustee’s expenditures before asking them to sacrifice more of their hard earned money to taxes. It is my responsibility as a board member and chair of the Finance Committee to ask that budget line items be broken down by expenditures. I believe we can do better so more money can go to the poor and less property taxes paid by residents of Wayne Township. This can only be done when government executives are open, transparent, and accountable to the taxpayers via the Advisory Boards or Councils so a win-win strategy can be developed. Stonewalling of information accomplishes nothing and furthers the perception among the public that government spends and spends without benefiting the people it serves.
I will no longer respond to attacks or disparaging comments questioning my motives for requesting information to fulfill my responsibilities to the taxpayers of Wayne Township.
Maria M Parra
Wayne Township Board Member
Chair of Finance Committee
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