I bet you didn’t know that your tax dollars are being used to contribute to various non-profits in the County. The BOCC gives over $500,000 per year to favored charities because, at some point, they got the ear of a Commissioner. Further there is another nearly $1.4 million tax dollars allocated to non-profits for services provided.

What is going on here? For supposedly Conservative Republicans who are shepherds of our money, this seems like a made-for-ridicule boondoggle. At the very same time that the Commission is raising taxes, they are giving a half-million dollars to their non-profit friends. This is scandalous and should be stopped immediately.

The only disagreement between the Commissioners seems to be whether staff or they should do the ranking of the amounts given. Talk about tone deaf! It doesn’t matter how worthy a non-profit is, it should not receive tax dollars. That’s not why those taxes are levied.

Tax money should not be given unless there is an RFP process. Then non-profits and/or businesses can compete to provide those services. Handing out contributions is not what government should be about. If a citizen wants to contribute to a non-profit because he/she believes in the mission, that is one thing. I take exception when my tax dollars are used to do so.

Is it corruption? No, I don’t think it is. But it is an example of the “Old Boys” network. You scratch my back and I will scratch yours. You need a favor then remember me at election time. An example of how cronyism has seeped into every level of government—local, state, and federal.