Basic math 101

Commissioners signed an agreement with a firmto examine communication records, such as telephone charges and cellular phone charges and plans, to find instances where valuable tax dollars could be saved by making a change.And when the change is made, the firm hired to do theworkwill keep a portion of the savings as payment for their work.

A savings is nice, but half-a-savings is bittersweet and shouldn't be confused with proper money management.

Commissioners'president LorenHyltonmade a point to emphasize at the Monday morning meeting the contract with the firm was "at no cost to the county." But we take issue with that statement.

For the past year-and-a-half, county council member SteveAshby has been pouring over cell phone records and working diligently to reduce the number of cell phones, the number of minutes where possible and consolidate plans to save the countymoney.He has saved several hundreds of dollars each month at the sheriff's department alone.And all money saved stayed in the county.

Savings is good and it is better to save a dollar than not, but hiring a firmto take a portion of the savings should not be viewed as "at no cost to the county."

Call it what it is...paying for a service. Just as overspending costs the countymoney, so does relinquishing a portion of savings.