Once again our Kershaw County Council has slipped a fast one in on us. They tried to make it look as though we were against an improved fire service when that was never the issue. We all know that our county is growing in population, and we need to keep up with that growth with a well-maintained fire service; however, the argument was with the funding mechanism.

For six weeks, the Council played “bad cop” with us … saying that they were going to beat us up with a $25 fee on everything we owned. Then the “good cop” showed up at the last minute on Tuesday, June 11, saying that they were only going to slap us with a $29 fee on improved parcels only (plus a slight tax millage increase)…. What nice guys they turned out to be! Folks, they had this planned all along. They never ever cut their budget, but they don’t have any problem cutting ours.

If we are in a fire service crisis, as they say, and little children are at risk, as they say, then what is more important: a river park ($1 million and climbing for the last 18 months) for these little children, or fire service? We choose fire service! If we are in a fire service crisis, as they say, and little children are at risk, as they say, then what is more important, economic development ($25 million and climbing for the last 10 years) or fire service? We choose fire service!

Fellow taxpayers, for the council to have brought in firemen and surrounded the building with fire trucks last Tuesday night was a disgusting thing to do, making it appear as though we were against fire service. But the incredibly low blow, which went way down in the gutter, was when they used the story of that poor child who died in a car fire two years ago to exploit their agenda. That little child would have perished even if 100 firemen had been on duty: Shame on Kershaw County Council!

Folks, our council members have been saying for the past three years that we are in a budget crisis, but have yet to act like it. Please remember the men who voted to tax you rather than cut spending, as some have plans for higher office (Burns, Connell, and Snodgrass). Kershaw County Council needs to rein in their reckless spending, give the taxpayers a break, and take care of our firemen!

Vic Dabney, Camden