Spare Us the Excuses

Recalling the huge, unprecedented voter revolt when Congress proposed an outrageous salary increase in the recent past, it’s no wonder the Board of Supervisors was very sensitive about the public controversy ultimately generated by a self-proposed pay increase. After voter petition drives in the 1980s forced supervisors to rescind two direct-cash pay raises they had voted for themselves, we are dismayed to discover that county officials had learned from history and now used semantics to raise their salaries.

The board’s argument that these increases serve to keep officials from being lured to other jurisdictions is tiresome. If the county allows itself to be continually held hostage by top officials, it will soon be financially bankrupt.

In light of the recent layoffs and severe budget cutbacks the county has implemented, we would welcome a panel of the taxpaying electorate making inquiries into possible instances of governmental waste, inefficiency and excess.

ELYSE A. KUTZ

DARRYL E. KUTZ

Ventura