Notes on local politics

It's been mentioned a few times that I haven't been writing a lot lately, and that's true. The main excuse is that I got real busy at Golden Technologies learning and helping grow that company. And for the record I'm having a terrific time.

A quick overview of stories I was watching this morning:

The Porter County Council has been stepping up lately to do their jobs. They are asking tough questions of elected officials and releasing funds slowly. Good job council. Last night they approved a total restructuring of the Porter County Assessor's office, eliminating 3 full time jobs, and saving the county over $100,000. Of course the lazy news people disregarded this effort and wrote instead about the fact that in the restructuring they turned down a raise for the chief deputy. My opinion was that if the office in four months cuts appeals by a third, hits the tax bill deadline, and saves the county $100,000 in payroll ... then the deputy can be given a raise to make what the other deputies are making. But I understand the politics and the fact that other elected officials were jealous of all the attention Jon Snyder is getting lately.

Still waiting on other elected officials in Porter County to cut some jobs and make government smaller. Lots of talk and hiring of consultants, but the other half of outsourcing should be downsizing staff levels.

In what can only be termed "too little too late" the City of Valparaiso is temporarily setting aside a arbitrary park impact fee, which may not even be legal per state statute on impact fees, to try and encourage more home construction. I say too little too late because all impact fees should have been eliminated four years ago when the construction industry still existed and could have used the help. Sorry, I'm a huge Valpo fan, but impact fees in general were born of greed and a desire to beat down builders during the good times. IMHO.