County Waste

Let one thing be clear, I don't oppose government spending in principle, but I do oppose spending public dollars on patronage, unnecessary baubles, and hubris. It's seems like we've recently been hit by a "perfect storm" of misspent funds.

Earlier this year, our Honorable County Executive, Janet Owens, spent $2,312.50 putting her name on five "Welcome to Anne Arundel County" signs shortly after being elected to her second term. Though she's currently limited from serving another term in the position, some curious observers have asked coyly, "does this mean she has higher aspirations for 2006?"

Now County residents are hit with a report yesterday from The Capital that Owens spent $2,518, Sheriff George Johnson (anointed heir to the Executive throne) spent $865, and the Fire Chief, Roger Simonds (recently under fire for using overtime money for an unauthorized warehouse renovation project) spent $155 in taxpayer dollars sending holiday greeting cards to friends and associates (donors?) over the past couple of years. Apparently, Owens has offered a mea culpa, paying back her sum from campaign funds, and perhaps inadvertantly admitting the nature of such personal correspondence from our elected leader.

Today we learn that the County School Board is paying someone $650 a month to give the public access to their meeting agendas over the internet. In a world where you can't watch television five minutes without being proffered internet access and webhosting for $19.95 (or less!) per month, this conjures up sketchy memories of $900 hammers for the Pentagon. Thankfully we have some real sharpies on the Board, like Konrad Wayson, who offered flatly, "There are other options out there, ... It may be well worth looking at those." Indeed sir, it may. Perhaps next time the County could do us taxpayers the favor of looking at other options before it forks over $650/month for $20 internet service.

Any of these incidents alone might hardly be worth comment, but a pattern certainly seems to be evolving here. We'll be keeping watch.