Editor:
    In keeping with having County Government become more transparent I would like to explain the impact of our recent 4.99 percent increase to the FY07 budget. In essence it means the average homeowner would pay approximately $6 more toward county services. It should be made clear that this $6 is the Total increase for the entire year! Put another way, it means that a homeowner with a home value at $224,000 would pay $117.99 in county taxes for FY07.
Cumberland County Government has proven to be a cost efficient and cost effective way in delivering services to our citizens. Our jail is the only accredited jail in the state and staffed by professional deputies working under extremely harsh conditions. Our jail is maintained to provide a healthy, safe, secure, humane, and cost effective environment in which to detain persons alleged or convicted of legal violations. The Sheriff’s road patrol deputies and support services provide public safety in addition to working closely with communities and other counties ranging from providing OUI road blocks, operating after license suspension in addition to drug and sex offenders investigation plus accident scene reconstruction for both state and local law enforcement agencies.
    The Cumberland County District Attorney’s office prosecutes the criminal and civil infractions for the state, against people who are accused of breaking the law in Cumberland County. The Cumberland County Regional Communication Center provides public safety agencies that we service, with the highest possible standards of Public Safety communications by working with communities in the County. Our Deeds office maintains and preserves all documents recorded in the Registry, and provides the public with rapid and convenient access to recorded documents.
Additionally, the Registry of Probate whose mission is to fulfill the legal requirements for processing estates, guardianships plus name changes and adoptions; we have the Emergency Management Agency which continues to cultivate efforts to prepare for disaster from floods, terrorism and weapons of mass destruction.
As we continually reach out to the 27 communities within Cumberland County with attempts of consolidation and collaboration in sharing resources and methods in reducing costs we recognize the achievements come slowly, however in doing so, working together, it can be done.
I invite you to visit our website, www.cumberlandcounty.org where more information is available on County Government.
Sincerely,
Richard J. Feeney, Chair
Commissioner, Cumberland County