Montgomery County (MD) Executive Doug Duncan(washingtonpost.com) was chided by the County Council for mismanagement of county construction projects.
Normally, I would not use this blog to comment on local news issues, but this item comes on the heels of a report by the Government Performance Project funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts that graded the effectiveness of state government to manage their fiscal matters in an effective manner. Only Virginia and Utah earned A grades with most states getting a B.
Montgomery County is an example of a local jurisdiction that can't seem to get its priorities straight. As the Washington Post pointed out, the county, in 2003, passed $86 million in new taxes. For most county residents, they received their property tax assessments which grew at about 50-80% for most people. In fact, the property tax assessments means teh county will get an infustion of $250 million or so in property tax alone. Each year, the tax bills get higher and higher, but at the same time, governments are providing less effective service or hoarding money for projects that should not be the governments business.
The state of Virginia is posting a $1 billion (that's right, billion) surplus. But the chances of that surplus of funds being returned to its rigthful owners (the taxpayers) is remote. If Maryland had a surplus (which it doesn't), I can guarantee the state legislature would not return the money, but rather spend it on some boondoggle, instead of investing it in say, education or transportation--you know a normal state responsibility.
To all elected leaders who spend tax money---it is not your money, you have a fiduciary responsibility to manage it properly if you don't you are violating your oath of office.
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