Fort Smith City Government—Voodoo economics/taxes October 25, 2018

T.R. headline: City outlines long-term equipment plan.

Director of Finance, Jennifer Walker presented her plan to the Board of Directors Tuesday evening last.

“Walker said she asked all the Department Heads for the anticipated needs for the next 5 years”.

“This is a living document, so we can make lots of changes to it”. A 5 year plan is an absurdity and an effort to effect an open-end tax mill. Additionally, the Department Heads in reality always inflate and never contains protection or explanations to taxpaying citizens, ending in abuse of power.

The solution for sensible government spending should demand a Zero-based budgetry. I will define again.

Zero-based budgetry means every government department, e.g. fire, police, streets, parks, libraries, ad infinitum does not begin with a budget with built-in increases year after year, it means every single expense has to be anticipated and accounted for that year and each succeeding year begins with reducing the out-flow. With competent management there are some departments that could actually increase revenue and some departments are certainly not necessary with duplication of duties and personnel, e.g. some called assistants, deputies, vice, etc. and must go.

Not using Zero Budgetry is an invitation for bigger government, higher taxes, inside trading and more incompetency’s.

I first wrote on the subject in an article titled “With no accountability there is no hope”, published September 23, 2015 which appears on my website.

Joe McCutchen
Arkansas Freedom dot com