Letter to the Editor:
I have been reading and listening to the comments made by the Elected County Court members and other folks about a total County shutdown if the recall is successful in removing some of the officials. Basically, the lights will have to be turned off and everyone will need to go home due to not having an operational budget in place! This is totally avoidable, I call on the Elected County Officials to step up and do the job duties of your station and move forward with implementing an emergency budget or simply readopting the current 2023/2024 budget knowing there will be a need for further review and amendments in the new fiscal year, 2024/2025. This will at a minimum keep the lights on and the county operational until the dust settles and a more refined budget can be put in place. I strongly encourage a supplemental budget or resolution to provide valued County employees with their annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment.
You all have stated how much you care and all the great things you have done for the county, so now we ask you to put the rhetoric and fearmongering aside and implement an emergency or readoption of the previous budget. Whether some of you are still seated or not after May, you can say you kept the County in operational mode going forward and avoided turning out the lights!! COUNTY COURT if this information moves you to fulfil your duties as Elected Officials, below is a sample budget calendar you could implement immediately.
April 11th - Publish 1st Budget Committee Notice
April 18th – Publish 2nd Budget Committee Notice
April 24th – Budget Committee Meeting
April 25th – Publish Budget Hearing Notice
May 1st – Budget Hearing and Adopt Budget
May 1st is acceptable for the Hearing and Adoption; the recall results will not be certified for several days after the election.
As an Elected Official that has participated in the budget process for over 30 years, I am confident in your abilities to make this happen.
Thank you,
Arlington Mayor Jeff Bufton
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