I am a firm believer in minimum government interference and maximum personal freedoms when it comes to the lives of all citizens. One clear way to promote maximum freedoms for all citizens is through an orderly and well maintained society that adheres to the rule of law, and in which people can go about their daily lives with minimal threat to life and property. That is why good law enforcement is so important.

In order to attain and maintain that goal, it is very important to provide necessary government services in the most effective, efficient way possible to promote public safety and save taxpayer money. This offers citizens more freedom to utilize their hard earned money to meet other needs, such as rising fuel, food and clothing costs. In fact, in this presidential election year, the state of the economy will no doubt be a priority as people cast their votes.

With that in mind, I feel we can strengthen the economy by keeping taxes low, and we can keep taxes low by eliminating duplication in government services and consolidating in many areas.

In 2004, the Local Government Consolidation Study Committee spent a great deal of time and energy looking into the pros and cons of merging city and county services. According to their published report , the study was a joint, non-partisan effort that involved a number of private citizens, office-holders, public servants, local print and radio media, the city manager, the county planner and others. The recommendations made by the Committee were described as “necessary for an effective, efficient government in the 21st Century.”

Further, the Study recommended a “customer relations management theme” built around the concept of providing services to the citizens of Bradley County in the most effective and efficient manner possible. The Study Committee was concise, in-depth and comprehensive, and examined all local operations “department-by-department, agency-by-agency, function-by-function.”

There are many excellent recommendations made in the Consolidation Study which I feel are reasonable, practical and progressive, and would result in a tremendous savings to the taxpayer in the long run. I also feel that Cleveland and Bradley County are uniquely situated to take advantage of such proposals.

As a society, we can no longer afford to unnecessarily duplicate government services. When I took office, the first thing I did was reorganize a top-heavy management structure here at the BCSO. This enabled me to put more deputies on the street and provide greater services with the savings in financial resources. Additionally, I eliminated some BCSO crime laboratory services that were being duplicated by the TBI in Nashville. By eliminating these duplicated services, we have been able to achieve a more streamlined, efficient and cost-effective operation. These are not the only savings we have achieved at the BCSO. With the closing of this year’s budget, we can show where over $600,000 has been returned to the General Fund through better management of resources since I took office in September of 2006. This has saved taxpayer money.

With the continued costs of goods and services on the rise, perhaps it is time for all government ~ federal, state and local ~ to take a good hard look at eliminating duplicated services and consolidating where possible. The 2004 Consolidation Study Committee report would be a solid, workable blueprint with which to begin that process.

 Click HERE to Download The Entire Consolidation Study Committee Report