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r <br />SEP 19 9 n`�r, 77 <br />s 1 <br />budget has a $1.1 -million increase. With ALS we have a situation <br />where the technology has become so advanced that we've seen the <br />demise of the volunteer squads. The County is trying to move <br />toward user fees, relating some costs directly to services, but <br />the problem is that some of the County's biggest expenses cannot <br />be neatly quantified and divided into user fees. The value of <br />your home doesn't really relate back to what you're demanding for <br />county services, and how do you tell somebody that they have to <br />pay for a part of a courtroom they may never be in or that they <br />have to pay for a piece of the jail that they'll never be in. <br />How can you explain higher taxes to that guy who owns a half - <br />million dollar piece of property in John's Island or The <br />Moorings, who has his own private security and a private road? <br />He didn't feel you could explain. Commissioner Scurlock pointed <br />out that crack cocaine -related crime has boosted the cost of law <br />enforcement drastically; however, people are not understanding <br />what the criminal element is costing us. <br />Mr. Hill maintained that the trend line in the increases <br />that he had just shown was not going to fly. <br />Commissioner Scurlock asked Mr. Hill what percent of <br />increase in his taxes is due to an increase in assessment, but <br />Mr. Hill did not feel that was the issue. Although he <br />appreciated that a lot of these expenses are mandated by the <br />State, he would suggest that the Commission alert the people each <br />time the State mandates another service so that the people can <br />voice their objections to their State Senators and State <br />Representatives. He didn't know how, but he felt somehow we have <br />to get a better handle on these matters. <br />Bill Koolage, 815 20th Avenue, felt that we have to address <br />the fact that population increases don't pay for themselves. As <br />the county grows, the demand for services grows, and you don't. <br />have the volunteer spirit. The County had to pick up the ALS <br />Service, but you didn't see the Hospital District budget go down, <br />16 <br />