News
Resident Addresses Sheridan Commission on Government Spending
In the Public Comment portion of their recent meeting agenda, the Sheridan County Commission heard a brief presentation from Craig Dinatly regarding his concerns over government spending.
He asked the commission to set a precedent and a good example.
Dinatly also suggested the commission re-examine the process where entities come before them to request funding.
He said that’s like a friend that only shows up when he needs to borrow something of yours but you never see them at any other time.
Commission Chairman Lonnie Wright thanked him for his comments.
Dennis Fox
April 24, 2025 at 3:23 pm
Well done and thank-you Mr. Dinatly.
Fiscal responsibility is an idea who’s time has come.
Maybe reward those who don’t spend all their budget allowance?
Living within our means is something we all need to do.
The new “hip” word in gov’t is Frugality.
Solomon Morris
April 25, 2025 at 10:26 am
I worked for a gov’t agency that didn’t spend all of it’s money, and rolled over their budgets as was suggested in this news story. The conservative led legislature found out. They called it hoarding, cut the agency budget by over half, and fired the conservative head. Just my experience in a roll over budget. I’m sure people will find fault in my saying this, but our fiscal responsibility cost us more than it was worth.
Dennis Fox
April 25, 2025 at 3:04 pm
Two basic problems with all gov’t budgeting:
1. “Zero-based” budgeting that always starts every year with last year’s budget amount. And it usually just provides a base-level for more budget increases.
2. Zero incentive to be fiscally responsible and frugal with your budget. If you don’t spend it all you lose it next year.
That’s a clear Dis-incentive to spend less.
Not sure what the solutions are but we need to run gov’t budgets more like a household or business that rewards “living within our means.”
Of course the obvious first-step is to limit the amount of money that gov’t has to spend to start with.
Lower taxes are always better and limit gov’t money available to waste.