Just a reminder about the public hearing on the County Budget which will be held on Thursday June 7, at 5:30pm in the County Commissioners meeting room.  Also, I apologize for not making any blogs lately.  I will celebrate my 50th birthday on Sunday June 10th and my wife and I have been planning for my party on this Saturday at our home. 

We have a lot of family and friends that will be there, so as you can imagine, the past two weeks of getting the house ready and making all of the final details has been a nightmare.  However, you only turn 50 once.

Next week I will update you on all of the behind the scene meetings and horse trading that has been going on over the past two weeks to adopt a budget that will certainly have a tax increase.  A sneak preview is, for the first time we will have two republicans who have said they  will vote for a 3 cent tax increase and possibly a 4 cent tax increase.  Guest who they are, Billy Yow and Mike Winstead.  Paul Gibson is calling in his chips on Billy for supporting him in getting lights for some of his friends in Pleasant Garden which was in Carolyn Coleman's district and Mike is following along because B.J. Barnes has told him to support  Paul Gibson in getting his budget passed this year without the help of the African Americans on the Board, simply because we don't support building a new jail. 

Paul was also send meeting with Kirk Perkins, Kay Cashion and John Parks at Lucky 32 on May 24th, discussing the budget.  This meeting took place immediately after our first budget meeting on that same afternoon.  They have also been meeting privately with Billy and Mike, along with some staff members all this week putting the budget together with a tax increase.

So, it looks like there will be 4 democrates and 2 republicans that will be passing a budget this year with a tax increase that I personnally think is still to high.  However, you will have your chance to speak to these Commissioners and try to get them to change their minds on Thursday night if you come out and let your voices be heard.  See you there!