Cost, rationale for county's logo should be exposed
Editor:
I read Barry Paschals column from this past Sunday (Ol Saint Nick isnt in office, Dec. 7). As the column indicates, the impact the recession has had on county and state tax receipts continues to be a serious issue. Two pages further into the paper there is an article concerning the new Columbia county logo contest.
The rationale given by the county for the change was published last week. Now, if money is tight, should we not expect our elected officials to be more frugal? If they fail in this regard, then should not the media hold the elected and unelected officials feet to the fire?
Why is The Columbia County News-Times giving the county a pass on the logo change issue? What is the cost to the taxpayers going to be when all vehicles and recently painted water towers are repainted; new stationery is ordered; the Web site is changed; etc.?
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The expense to produce the logo was given as the main incentive for the change. So how many years will have to pass before the outlay (our taxpayer dollars) for changing the logo on said items are recouped? I will bet none of these numbers have been generated by any county official and, if they were, why are they not being reported to the public?
I suspect the cost-effectiveness of this issue has had neither much thought nor debate and probably reflects a career county bureaucrat trying to justify or obtain an increase in his/her current budget.
I am tired of paying my fair share of taxes only to have the county officials waste the money. Public apathy can be overcome if the media publishes the truth and stimulates active debate.
Paschals column seemed to demonstrate a concern over the countys financial plight, so should not this issue be further investigated? If the logo change reflects a cost of less than $10,000 then it truly is a non-issue. I will bet it cost at least this much to paint one water tower.
Perhaps the paper can generate some data - that is, unless the covert diversionary logo contest has fooled the editors as well as the general public.
Dale Schmacht
Evans