Consider This... Lubbock County Mess - KCBD NewsChannel 11 Lubbock

LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) - I don't say this lightly when I say I believe we have a bona fide mess going on at Lubbock County.

Here's the background: Tuesday, Lubbock County Commissioners appointed a new sheriff - Chief Deputy Kelly Rowe. He's the same deputy who's been in charge of the new jail - a jail that commissioners said could help lower taxes once it's finished. Well, the jail is over budget and way past deadline. 

Then I learned commissioners had the nerve to raise your taxes again. That's right - late Monday, commissioners court voted a tax increase for the third straight year. And it's no doubt to fund the wayward jail project and an overpaid medical examiner.    

Consider this; last august I was told the delayed jail should finally open by April. And as a result, tax savings would follow. I was told it would save $3 million a year on inmate housing and make $3 million a year on federal inmates. That's $6 million to the bottom line.

Well, over a year later, the jail still isn't finished and won't likely be finished this year; and commissioners have now taken another million and a half of our money to pay for it. All I can say is, if you or I were running a business that way, we'd be out of a job.

We want to know what you think. Voice your opinion by e-mailing us at considerthis@kcbd.com or write us at:

KCBD-TV Attn: Consider This
5600 Avenue A
Lubbock, TX 79404

©2009 KCBD NewsChannel 11. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.