Time to go on

Beginning today, county leaders - council members and commissioners - will begin to reduce the county budget appropriations for 2008 based on recommendations from the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance.

It is important to remember that county employment is not an entitlement program. County employees are paid to WORK. Employment, overtime, compensatory time and a nice health insurance program are all classified as extra job benefits.

Many people in this county have suffered cutbacks and/or layoffs at their jobs at one time or another. Some have lost jobs due to overspending on the part of employers. It happens and people live through it.

Personnel who will no longer be employed by Carroll County when the final word is said will live through it as well. How they handle it, be it with grace or with rage, is an indication of their character and has nothing to do with those who must make the tough decisions necessary to right the wrong in Carroll County finances.