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Hulsey's Dawdling On Human Services
The Capital Times :: EDITORIAL :: 7A
Tuesday, September 21, 2004
Michael Jacob Madison
Dear Editor: County Board Supervisor Brett Hulsey seems to have lost track of his job description. In response to a distress call put out by a diverse group that has come together to call for increased funding for human service programs in Dane County, Supervisor Hulsey cops out, saying we need "to put it to the voters through a referendum."
I don't know about Supervisor Hulsey's constituents, but I voted for my County Board representative trusting he would head to the County Board floor to represent me. I trust him to make tough decisions. I trust him to balance increases in taxes with providing adequate funds for county programs, especially human services.
Supervisor Hulsey wants to hold a public referendum to see if there is support among taxpayers for an additional $20 on our tax bills to fill the gap in human service funding in the upcoming budget. Rather than go through that expensive process, I suggest Brett and his 36 colleagues on the Dane County Board get in touch directly with their constituents and ask them: Is quality human service funding worth an extra $1.67 per month to you?
Perhaps Supervisor Hulsey should take a clue from Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, who recently said: "The County Board and I are elected to make that decision (what local governments ought to spend)."
By electing you we have placed our trust in you. No more dawdling while human service programs languish.
