“Don’t Call it a Comeback….”
Posted by The Truth | Filed under Uncategorized
HE’S BACK…….Yes, the Truth Ruth is live and in full effect. So much has been going on and sometimes humility and learning and assessment presides over speaking and talking. As we take that journey to move mountains and affect real change, knowledge is power and the pursuit to gain it means keeping open ears and a closed mouth.
When we look at benefits and pay of elected officials, of course, there are going to be many thoughts engaged in the debate as to whether these benefits are needed or not. Generally heard are the fact that compensation needs to be made for sacrificing time and for attracting quality candidates. However, when we look from the outside in, we tend to quash those reasonings and go right to the point that public service is just that….service.
In speaking to the Board of Mayor and Alderman, the point that was trying to be made was that where your service is appreciated for making the tough decisions and representing our city, so to is it that we look to you for making some of the same financial sacrifices that we must make. Having health insurance accessible to our elected officials should be a given. However, having the taxpayer take the burden of having to pay for dependents and spouses, as well as the full amount of premium for the elected official is something that is not really seen anymore in country. As companies have to scale back and find savings, the first items to be cut are benefits.
Cuts not meaning that literally, but increasing employee financial obligations and sometimes lessening of services. This is common place here in big business and affects many who live in our city, so why would our elected officials be immune to that. Again, the sacrifices that are made by the electorate should also be shared by the elected officials.
Straying from the normal policy I have of not speaking in first person, I can say that if the opportunity to receive the quality health care that is offered to our elected officials were made available to the general pubic, I would be the first in line with a check to receive it. Additionally, if i were an elected official, I don’t think it would be too much to make a financial contribution to alleviate some of the taxpayer burden to these benefits.
With that being said, I want to share the message that I spoke about, well actually, deviated from in my comments at the last BOMA meeting.
During the final push of campaigning during the recent elections, citizens were told about financial stability, economic development, and how the budget was on track and looking good. If those tags lines were used during the campaigning, then why is there the opportunity of burdening the citizens with increased property taxes? Yes, a possible 12-cent increase on our taxes when letters and statements were made that things looked good. Yes, the economy changes and yes people do what they need to do and say in order to be elected, but where is it when these promises and statements and ideas breakdown, do we find accountability and change? Certainly not to the taxpayer who was under the guise of certainty that we were all right.
GM shutdowns, loss of business, increased foreclosures , lack of services, and burdening debt, are all on the horizon, if not upon us now. For there to be debate on increasing the citizens burden, let’s look first at where you as a board can make humble decisions and show us how committed you are to taking the lead at fixing our budget problems. The idea to slash salary and benefits of the Alderman is just a start.
Think for a moment of the real profitable big business where by loyalty and humility executives forgo salaries so that their employess and company can flourish. If we are to remain a profitable community, we need to employ some of those tactics.
Campaigning so that you could receive a salary and benefits personal gain was not heard on the campaign stump, so why now do we here that these are things to attract the best to serve the public? What happened to those words of dedication and public service and being a public servant? Sometimes we need to humble ourselves and do what is best for the community at large. That should be the reason why people are charged to run for office.
Times are tight and sometimes people need to see from the top down how we can digest personal sacrifices. Time commitment is not just that given by elected officials, but also by citizens who are looking out for the good of their families and neighbors. However, I don’t see average citizens who come to meetings day in and day out getting paid, nor discouraged from the fact that they are not receiving compensation for their time and sacrifice. Everyone here has a stake in creating a better city in Spring Hill, if it is of the belief that only you as elected officials should receive benefits when other dedicated people much like yourselves cannot in this economic climate, then perhaps you should reevaluate your decision to serve.
When we associate benefit to service, then messages and meanings get lost in the process. Certain things you can always associate a salary to, but when it comes to leading, there is no money in the world to earn that title. The pay is never great, it at all existent, and sometimes you are unappreciated, but when you make the decision to run for office, the thought is that you put personal gain aside and work hard to enhance the community. People who want to make a difference for the common good do not rely on pay and benefits, they rely on knowing that at the end of the day, they have represented a community well.
Some may say it is easy for those on the outside to make judgements about pay and benefits of our elected officails. We can criticize and complain and speak out. For you as elected officials it is almost part of the job to hear the concerns from the electorate, but at the end of the day, our hope is that you step back and listen and analyze what people have said. Please do not mistake anyone asking for contribution to the insurance package as being ungrateful for the job you were elected and sworn to do. Times are tight for everyone. However, when you lead, you should do it by example and when situations and sacrifices are to be made first by the elecorate, it can be a very hard pill to swallow. When you were elected, there was never debate about the benefits to be received, but rather how best you lead and the enormous opportunity to give service to the community. Yes, you are not volunteers, but please do not denigrate those who do volunteer and attend as many meetings and functions as you do, in order to make their community a better place. The only difference is that you have the voting power. For some, the same committment is given whether elected or not. For some, family sacrifice is given whether elected or not. For some, no amount of compensation will ever take the place of participating for the better of the city and our families and neighbors, AND THAT’S THE DOUBLE TRUTH RUTH!
