Several elected county officials sent the commissioners an open letter Nov. 4 offering their “proposal to assist the board in responding to the crisis which threatens the continued lawful operation of county government.” There is no doubt that the assessor, the auditor, the clerk, the prosecutor, the sheriff and the treasurer are each well-meaning, but one wonders exactly what the details of “the crisis” are, especially as it applies to each of them.

Why is this letter forthcoming now instead of months ago, when the financial crisis (probably) peaked? I can only surmise that each of these offices contained excesses that became obvious only after the nation’s, the state’s, and the county’s economy had already gone belly up.

The suggestions offered have some merit, but should only be considered for implementation after careful consideration of the facts and citizen input. To suspend certain “non-governmental organizations and all non-mandated county programs until the budget crisis is over” may not be in the best interest of the citizens who have strong ties and reliance on these organizations and services.

Wiping out long-established programs and displacing personnel who provide desired services might be a quick answer to county budget problems, but not necessarily what your constituents want or the best decision in the long run.

The letter raises numerous questions, including: Exactly what actual resources are lacking in the writers’ offices? Is it wise to deplete the county’s reserves without defining the “emergency” thoroughly? Which NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) do these offices wish to remove and what are the reasons? Who is qualified to evaluate the worth of NGOs? What “other sources” will “fill the gap” if support is withdrawn for the unnamed NGOs? Is it time to take a closer look at the budget’s salary components for the writers’ offices?

These questions and more will be asked by your constituents if NGOs are removed from facilities and otherwise left without support. There is evidence the country’s financial downturn is now moving in the other direction. I urge you to proceed with caution and complete knowledge of the facts before committing to action that may be permanent and destructive.

Jerry Mercer

Greenbank