Open letter from Jerry Beckley (candidate for Berkeley Co. Supervisor):
Not a “Reckless” budget, but a “Reckless” Supervisor
I believe a few things need to be mentioned about the Supervisor’s pay-to-listen address about the County. First, he said the he has produced seven years of balanced budgets, when in-fact he failed to say that the State requires all county budget’s to be in balance. Second, for seven years the Supervisor has failed to fund public safety, like the Sheriff’s Department and EMS. This was corrected by the conservative members of Council. If our safety is “reckless” then the Supervisor needs to answer for it. Third, since he took office in 2007 we have had several “reckless” decisions that need to be uncovered.
1. The citizens of Berkeley County passed a 1 cent local option sales tax, which 100% of the sales tax would always be deducted from our property tax bill. Mr. Davis was the deciding vote with two Democrats and two RINO Council members to take 29% of the annual revenue raised each year, giving the citizens a tax increase. Our conservative Council returned 9% to the people, while the liberal Supervisor said nothing.
2. The Supervisor also forgot to mention that in 2010, he and other liberal members of Council wanted to purchase the 696-acre Carolina Nurseries property on Hwy 52 for 16-million dollars, turning Berkeley County residents into land speculators. If the Supervisor had true conservative values, he would have spoken up. Again, conservative members of Council spoke for the people.
3. In 2011, the Supervisor with other liberal members of Council approved the purchase of property at the fairgrounds for the proposed Dan Davis Health Campus and it is not needed. Here again, the Supervisor is spending the money of the people without regard to their needs. Now that is reckless.
4. The Supervisor has done nothing to keep Daniel Island residents from wanting to move out of the County. He so cares about these residents, that he has had one meeting in which he sent a letter on a Monday for a Wednesday gathering about the County. Daniel Island residents are part of the Berkeley County family and the Supervisor has had no other meetings on the island for residents. Now that is reckless.
5. The Supervisor decided not to pursue American Lafrance for the past six years to collect the $650,000 they owe the people of Berkeley County. If he didn’t know, he should have. Now that is reckless.
6. Charging $35 per person to hear the State of the County Address. He obviously believes you have to be a member of the club to hear the State of the People’s County. Now that is reckless and priceless.
The examples go on and on. Reckless is calling yourself a Republican and siding with the liberal members of Council 95% of the time, which makes us think that he is a LIBERAL!
Jerry Beckley
Conservative Republican for Berkeley County Supervisor
(Note: Letters to the Editor do no represent endorsements from The Berkeley Observer)
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Mr. Beckley,
You hit the nail on the head. It is time for a change for the Supervisors position in Berkeley County! Keep up the good work Sir. Mr. Davis is a weazel and needs to go. Good luck to you and you have my vote!