It's Taxpayers' Money, Not Theirs

Ramblings on the economy:

The Hernando County School Board needs to tell Superintendent Wayne Alexander that since he resigned he can come back at his original contract minus 5 percent. If that is not acceptable to Alexander, then say goodbye now instead of when his contract is up. Any intelligent person knows he is gone ASAP.

It is time for Hernando County to set an example, get rid of every paid holiday except for the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Increase the number of "personal days" to replace the other federal holidays.

The day after Thanksgiving should be a designated a personal holiday and based on where other non-Monday holidays fall. Designate holidays from the personal pool.

This will save money because it will increase the number of days our government is available and decrease the "post holiday" delay for services.

Any constitutional officer who chooses to utilize a service provided by the county, including legal, must pay any cost out of the officer's salary. It's my money, not theirs.

Question why our legal department cannot handle every issue instead of hiring outside counsel and deduct the cost from the department head.

Personal income of almost every person in this county has dropped. Why has not the base pay for every government employee - excluding classroom teachers and public safety - decreased? If you disagree, then teach school that has turned into "KinderCare" for students or face an armed situation without backup.

Richard Ross

Brooksville

Proud Of Our Sheriff

I am proud of Sheriff Richard Nugent in his recent concern for child protection for the young 16-year-old adopted boy from Taiwan who was abused by his mother and how our community was shocked at the horrific injustice done to this child.

I have been Mr. Mom for some 10 young people mentoring them into their adult roles, some status offenders through the courts in Ohio, all this coming from my having been a teacher in the early 1960s and an advocate for those with nervous anxiety or mental illness along with those orphaned into foster homes, my having been born and reared in a Cincinnati orphanage until I was 10.

It was not unusual for me to get wards of the court who became status offenders because they were not in trouble with the law but became obstreperous in the home as a result of parents demanding their way with belts, locked doors and punitive measures denying privileges for months at a time.

This young man will need all the care and comfort conceivable to return him to his normal teen years, a period of youth that is productive, inquisitive, friendly in searching for peer activities, and, given a chance, spiritual in their search for a deeper reality and grace in the world that is not always open to the sensitivities of the teenage culture.

Deron Mikal

Brooksville

A New Year's Resolution

We would all like to improve the economy in our county. In order to do that, let us make a New Year's resolution that, in as much possible, every purchase we make will be in a Hernando County store.

Instead of traveling to Citrus or Pasco stores, make a conscious effort to support local businesses. They deserve our support.

In the yellow pages of the phone book, we can shop from accounts to youth organizations and centers (A to Z), all in Hernando County.

If you adopt this resolution, the economy in our county will be on the increase.

Nick Morana

Spring Hill