Craven County Board of Commissioners Meeting
19 June 2017
FY 2017-2018 Budget Adopted
The Craven County Board of Commissioners adopted the FY 2017-2018 budget. The budget does not increase taxes or fees.
However, there is much to object to about this budget process and the budget itself.
First, the process, We at CCTA object strongly to the members of the Board of Commissioners or their wives being appointed to the boards of organizations that apply for funding and other approvals of their activities. There are some 22 instances of this happening. We are convinced that this is a conflict of interest and will seek ways to abolish that situation.
We object to increased spending even though the taxes aren’t increased.
Then there is the membership dues for Commissioners to belong to organizations whose principal purpose for existence is to train county commissioners in the art of separating taxpayer’s from their money. $115,977 dollars goes to pay commissioners dues to belong to such organizations.
I want to refer you to a paper entitled “God’s Role; Not Government’s by Don Keel.
Christian Charity is voluntary, rewarding the giver as well as the receiver. Government programs require forced confiscation of earnings through threat of fines or imprisonment. The receiver of Christian charity is humbled by the kindness of neighbors and he often receives his blessing in a way that glorifies Christ. This, in turn, will increase the likelihood that he will strive to for self-reliance and inspire him to one day “Pay it forward.” Government programs redistribute mass amounts of earnings with very little scrutiny or accountability.
Because of the “blanket approach,” government programs reward bad behavior and punish good behavior. They punish ambition and encourage sloth and dependency. This, in turn, creates a cycle of dependency that destroys one’s dignity, self-esteem, self-worth, and ambition and a cycle that is almost impossible to break. Some people have found a way to grow their families by taking from another person’s family and have found a way to live in ever increasing comfort by taking comforts from another who has actually worked for that privilege.
I would submit that no Christian would advocate forciblytaking from one and giving to another, yet that is what our government does. They would rightly regard such a taking as theft- prohibited by one of the Ten Commandments, the cornerstone of God’s Law on Earth. Delegating that authority to government does not sanctify taking private property. The 8th Commandment does not say, Thou should not steal …except by majority vote.” Clearly, some clergy have confused what is rendered to Caesar and what should be rendered to God.
That from Don Keel.
We at CCTA surely pray that there will come a day in which government at all levels obey the 10 Commandments and the US Constitution.
Respectfully Submitted,
Hal James,
CCTA Watchdog Committee Chairman
CCTA Watchdog Committee Chairman
