By the way, unless I have lost count, this is the third year in a row that Ellis has recommended a tax increase. The initial reluctance of the commission to go along with double digit percentage increases in the teeth of a severe recession seems to be waning now. Does anyone believe the County has cut expenses to the extent possible and is anywhere near efficient? Has the County even responded to that Ga State study saying the government was rife with inefficiency? Out of sight, out of mind, I guess. Or call it the bait and switch, with commissioners like Rader feigning concern for efficiency then just caving to Ellis’ demands for ever-rising taxes.

So where does this end? We all know that housing values are still going down in most places. Once these 4.5 mills are spent, vanished down the rat hole of employee benefit bloat, will they be back for more next year? Probably. Because, as I’ve said, the employees of this county do not work for you. You work to pay them.