Something will have to be done and what it is will be expensive. At the same time, however, the county s tax revenues are up, its infrastructure is in generally good shape and its fiscal prospects are good. The price of natural gas is up, and with it the county s income. Continued high prices, which seem possible and even likely, should keep that going for some time. Taxpayers should wonder as well.
Any craftsman knows that bargain-basement tools cost more in the end.
Likewise, a parsimonious policy toward county employees will only encourage the best and most effective of them to go elsewhere. These are the people we rely on to keep county government running smoothly, to keep our roads and facilities in order and to keep the peace. Allowing a misguided frugality to push them out of county jobs, perhaps even out of the community, would be wasteful and wrong. Contents copyright 2000, the Durango Herald. All rights reserved.