Those areas that are withstanding the economic stagnation and proving economically viable are those which support their economic development specialists. Cities that are doing well have a city-county-business sector who work well together, plan a common strategy and thus have the ability to support the public programs the public desires. In addition, they have a taxpayer base who are willing to support the cost of local government.

The public complaining while paying only a 7.3 property tax mill levy while cities doing well have a regional property tax rate of from 22 to 33 mills makes all the difference in the world. Wanna be cheap, expect cheap in return.

If Mr Paige needs targets to take cheap pot shots at, perhaps looking within the city which has absolutely no ability to counter the bad recent press might be a start.

I would think job one would be for those in leadership positions to quit looking at agencies to criticize and come to the table with a positive agenda – and to develop the spirit if ‘regionalism-coordination-cooperation’ that is talked about and forgotten. All this talk is nothing more than what comes out of the north end of a south bound bull and it is time the city-county come together and start looking for ways to just survive at this point.