LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

To the Editor:

Some 82 percent of the budget is expended for pay and benefits. As of September 30, 2000 58 employees were paid approximately $2.6 million for an average cost per employee of $45,000 per year.

By April 2010 personnel costs for pay and benefits have increased to $8.8 million for 85 employees. The average cost per employee now exceeds $100,000 per year. Some 77 percent now receive annual compensation in excess of $100,000 per year.

Only five employees receive yearly compensation under $75,000. Given the current pay structure in the not-too-distant future more than 90 percent of the department will receive annual compensation in excess of $100,000 per year.

Do you receive pay and benefits in excess of $100,000 a year? Do you work for a business that pays more than $100,000 a year for more than 75 percent of its employees?

In the last 10 years pay has increased more than twice the rate of inflation.

Year after year the fire board has increased the millage tax rate to the current three miles, the maximum allowed by law. Over the last several months the fire board has discussed ways to double the fire tax through a per parcel assessment.

Is there any end in sight to this tax-and-spend, and spend and tax method of operation.

Soon the cost of pay and benefits will exceed the maximum tax revenue at the maximum millage rate leaving nothing for operational expenses.

cont. . .