First I want to say that these thoughts have no political undertone. I am not addressing the Commissioners Court in any way. I am sure there are plenty of justified complaints with the way the county spends our money. The one thing I will say is that employee expense ranks one of the highest expenses on any budget and is always the first to be examine and reduced. That is true in any company or should be true with government.

I attended the Ellis County Public Budget meeting yesterday and was deeply sadden at what I witnessed. There was representation from county workers and tax payers present but what sadden me was the representation of the Ellis County Sheriff’s Department. I am not saying they were unruly or not respectful in addressing the court it was the total lack of feeling for the citizens of Ellis County that do not have a government job. I am addressing the Sheriff’s Department because they are the connections to the citizens in this county that work in private sector jobs. Apparently somewhere along the way they have lost contact with what is really going on in this country.

They were addressing several items proposed in this Budget:

1. Reduction of matching retirement funds,
2. Increase in insurance cost,
3. Furlough days.

I want to say what these employees DO HAVE: They have a current employment, They have an excellent retirement plan with the Budget Cut, They have health insurance.

Now I would like to say to them that many of the citizens of Ellis County don’t have jobs, current unemployment rate in Ellis County 8.9%. Many citizens have lost their health insurance, partial or all retirements plan because their employers have dropped these benefits. People are losing their homes and have exhausted their unemployment benefits with no hope of a job.

On the day they are making their case to keep their retirement and other benefits in tact the news releases that 1 in 7 people are at or under the poverty level. Striking difference don’t you think.

If this country and this county are to come out of this economic hole then everyone has to join in the fight to help everyone as a whole. The total lack of understanding about the county and the country’s situation frightens me that I may have to depend on help from someone totally uncaring or unaware of their surroundings.

Here is the vision, you call 911 because you are bleeding to death in your home, when help arrives they look at you and say well it isn’t me so we don’t care.

Phyllis and Larry Lemmon