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Hernando Today

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 20, 2008

Updated: 02/19/2008 07:55 pm

Commissioner Pay Should Be

Based On Per Capita Income

One way to help the county budget would be to change the way the salary for a county commissioner is determined. The job of county commissioner is a part-time job, but the salary is almost $60,000 per year. According to the 2000 census, the per capita income for Hernando County was $18,321. This means that we would need to have gotten a 325 percent increase and only work part time since 2000 to break even with these part-time employees

The current system is the state sets the salary based on population. I feel that the salary should be set on the per capita income of the county rather than population.

This would excite the commission to concentrate on increasing jobs and pay scales by bringing in more employers instead of paving over the county for new homes when there is no place for the people to work. A "bedroom community" has the support services without the sales tax to fund them.

Richard Ross

Brooksville
Four Chaplains
Service Uplifting

The memorial service for the Four Chaplains was held in Spring Hill on Feb. 3 at St. Francis Cabrini Catholic Church. There were about 232 people in attendance and 21 veteran organizations present with 17 color guards and the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus from St. Francis.

The service honored the four military chaplains who were aboard the U.S.S. T. Dorchester when it was torpedoed 150 miles off the coast of Greenland during WWII. The chaplains handed out life jackets to the servicemen aboard and, when there were none left, gave up their own. They remained aboard, comforting those who were wounded and injured too severely to abandon the sinking ship. They were last seen with their arms linked, praying with the men remaining on the ship that sank in less then 20 minutes.

I want to thank everyone who took part in the hard work in the planning of this memorial service. It could not have been done otherwise.

Many thanks to the media - perfect coverage - and the donations from local stores, the team I had the pleasure of working with from the American Legion Post 186 and the 186 Auxiliary, as well as the clergy. So great you all were. I hope to work with you again.

But let's not forget the public who attended the service. That made it worth the effort. And, lastly, the donations you gave to the FourChaplains Foundation.

I hope to be your chairperson next year. If there is anyone who can help out for the next one, I would like to hear from you.

Charles Haig

Chaplain Post 186,

15th District Chaplain

American Legion Spring Hill

Annual Fund Drive

To Fight Cancer Begins

We have started our critical 2008 Florida annual fund drive to fight cancer.

Your gift is urgently needed today to ensure we can help those in our neighborhood with cancer - and you and your family, if cancer has touched your life. Your support today will help us expand critically important advocacy, research, education and patient service programs as well as continue the search for new and other cancer treatments.

In the coming year, more than 1.4 million people in America will hear the terrible words: "You have cancer." We can win this fight with your support.

On Saturday, March 8, the America Cancer Society will host its 2008 Cattle Barons' Ball in Heffernan Hall at St. Anthony's Catholic Church. We are in need of sponsors as well as attendees.

Also, our Hernando County Relay's for Life will be held in April. We need sponsors for those events as well.

Your donation today will make a difference. Please help us in our efforts to eliminate cancer. Please call 597-6331 if you have any questions

Make check payable to The American Cancer Society and please mail to: The Enrichment Center, c/o Debbie Druzbick, 11375 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville, Fla., 34613.

George Pappas

John and Debbie Druzbick

Hamilton's Pay Too High

It seems to me that to compare our county with the other counties to determine David Hamiton's pay, is more like "trying to keep up with the Joneses."

We may be the same in size, but we are just not in the same ball field to pay out that kind of money.

With $135,000, plus a car and, I guess, gas too, along with medical -- to me, that job should be maybe $80,000 in this area. With all the benefits that go with his job, that is still a pretty penny.

If we are comparing what the other counties pay for jobs, maybe we should look at what we pay our teachers here.

Penny Golding

Ridge Manor

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