Vision 2025

Amid much pomp and media hoopla the Vision 2025 was revealed to the citizens of Pickens County. A small group of citizens tired of living in the shadow of Greenville have gotten together and decided they, not our elected officials, should lead us forward through the 21st century.

Tell them what you want, and they’ll make it happen. It all sounds like Christmas. But, skeptical me, just can’t get some nagging thoughts out of my head. First thing is this private Board of Directors signed a contract with a Florida consulting company to lead this process, and then the Board turns around and is asking for “contributions” from the cities and county.

Now, lets get the smiley faces off the desk and take a look at what’s underneath. Government entities earn no money, but collect and redistribute taxpayer money. Paint it as rosy as you want, but they do not “contribute” to anything; they spend our money. Now, this Vision2025 Board has the right to sign contracts with whomever they like, but what gives this non-elected not-answer able to the taxpayers Board the right to then expect the taxpayers to come up with $150,000 to foot the bill?

The fact that Easley, Clemson and Pickens jumped on to the Vision2025 “contribution” wagon so quickly indicates there has been quite a bit of back room dealing going on for awhile, causing the Vision2025 Board to feel quite confident about a commitment of taxpayer money. In the end, it appears the taxpayers who are the real “contributors” of this money, had no say in the matter.

The yellow flag also went up when all the Chambers of Commerce quickly jump on the wagon. Although they the Chambers all say their purpose is to provide “service to members and the pub lic”, their first priority is to their members, and they get excited about anything they see that pro vides a better environment for themselves at taxpayers expense. Their excitement over Vision2025 is causing an itch in my back pocket.

Another cheerleader seems to be Mr. Abernathy, who is on the steering committee. It seems his position and Clemson’s $10,200 contribution has caused him to believe “5his is an opportunity for us to have some say so in where Pickens County is going”. We all know money talks, and most folks outside of Clemson and Easley know those cities already have most of the say in where Pickens County is going, and most of what they have to say doesn’t seem to get around to Central, Liberty, Dacusville, Six Mile and Pickens. I’m sure this consulting firm will be able to come up with quite a dream list, everybody wants everything now, and everybody always wants someone else to foot the bill.

People like Mr. Sweitzer and Mr. Spittal have a tendency to forget that Pickens County taxpayers don’t exactly earn the same as those in Greenville. We can only afford so many grand visions and Taj Mahal libraries, and honestly, footing the bill to help them get out of the shadow of Greenville isn’t high on my priority list as paying my increasing bills and taxes. After all, it’s that shadow that keeps our costs down, and that is the main reason so many decide to settle here instead of Greenville County.

I may be wrong, but I’ve been around the block more than a time or two and haven gotten my share of slippery sticks. One thing I’ve learned is that anytime someone comes around telling me something is for my own good, attempting to palm me a higher tax bill while shaking my hand, it’s time to move my wallet to the front pocket.