It’s over. Fairfield County Council has passed the 2015-2016 budget, and it looks almost exactly like the 2014-2015 budget, which looked remarkably like its prior cousins the 2013-2014 and the 2012-2013 budgets. You might be wondering why. After all, didn’t we elect new Council members in four districts?
Yes, we did; but the creators of government budgets are not the Councilmen and women. No, these budgets are prepared by the hired bureaucrats, using the same old government cookie cutter methods to create the budget. Unless and until we change that paradigm we will continue to get the same results.
So how do we do this? Firstly, we change the bureaucrats. And, when we do we select new leaders that have a different vision, not the same old, same old government think. Perhaps Council should select candidates with actual business experience, someone who understands the concepts of productivity and pay for performance. Someone who has prepared budgets based on saving money, and making an organization mean and lean.
This seed change won’t be easy, there are people who don’t want to embrace change, for various reasons, perhaps personal interests, perhaps just because they are uncomfortable with change, after all, “This is how we have always done it!” Those people who will advocate for change will need support from likeminded citizens in Fairfield County. Until we get behind them and demand the needed changes, the tail will continue to wag the dog.
Bob Carrison
Winnsboro
