May 25, 2006 A Taxpayer Speaks to the Hamblen County Commission

At the May 18th meeting of the Hamblen County Commission, a gentleman addressed commission about the upcoming budget process.

Accountability is an important word for taxpayers everywhere, including Hamblen County.

Unfortunately, as this taxpayer points out, with two sets of accounting numbers, there can be no real accountability in Hamblen County---just confusion and chaos.

Here is the text of his handout:

5-18-06

I am here today to address the budget process that began May 16th. Before I make my comments I want to make it clear that the comments are my own and that I do not represent anyone other than myself as a taxpayer.

For the past several years you have been given two sets of figures for the budget process: the computer figures and the audited figures, complicating the process.

Mayor Purkey has stated that the audited figures are the county's Financial Bible. If that is true, then the computer figures should be adjusted to match the audited figures, enabling you to deal with one set of figures.

Last year this commission requested that the adjustments be made, but for some unexplained reason Mayor Purkey denied your request. This raises the question: Why does Mayor Purkey find it necessary to have two sets of figures?

We all know how hard it is to budget one set of figures. I can only imagine how difficult budgeting two sets of figures must be for you.

I urge each of you to think about this situation and think about the taxpayers. Stand up and demand what common sense told you was right last year. Insist that the adjustments made in the audit are made to the computer figures as well, providing one set of numbers for the budgeting process now and in the future.

Benny Smith
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The two sets of numbers that the Mayor insists on keeping have been a source of continuing problems in trying to achieve real accountability in Hamblen County government.

There are ways to clean-up the books after the audit has been completed and still maintain the pre-audit records if that is the concern.

Mr. Smith's words and questions are clear and concise.

Why does County Mayor David Purkey insist on keeping two sets of numbers?

If the Mayor believes, as he has stated, that the audited spending records are the county's "financial Bible," then why are commissioners given computer spending records, instead, during the budget process?