Readers have strong opinions about Cobb Commission Chairman Tim Lee’s proposal for a three percent raise for county elected officials:

Roger Phillips: Mr. Lee has stated that he believes county residents are okay with his proposed pay raise, and we think it's reasonable. He couldn't be more wrong! During his time in office, Mr. Lee raised the tax rate on my house, increased spending, and provided little if not any service improvement to our county. To say I am disappointed is an understatement! The pay increase to county staff was misguided; this is well beyond that. Now I am going to (be) asked to pay for another school tax in March. I am sure we'll be asked to pay for this in the not to distance future. As Nancy Reagan once said: Please, Just Say No.

From Kennesaw: As an elected official, with the economic situation not that great, how on earth can Lee even consider giving himself a raise? Check with the voters in March to learn how they feel about it….

Phyllis Boatner Kandul: OK, finally, I am mad as h--- and I don’t think we should take it any more. I don’t know where to begin. It has been building up for some time. It started when the Cobb County Commissioner was threatening to cut the salaries and furloughing firemen and policemen and teachers if we didn’t vote for raising the taxes and that we were going to be put in danger if we had to lay off these first responders and teachers and other lowly public servants. Not one word was ever mentioned that the top administrative offices could take pay cuts or give up some luxuries or that we could even do away with some of these unnecessary positions. And now he is proposing raises for the top people and saying that he has gotten no opposition from the “little” people (this is the first we “little” have heard of this. These are the people who have lost their jobs (so no raises there), who are struggling just to pay the necessities of living from day to day. I am so angry I just don’t have strong enough words or thoughts that I can put in a public letter to the paper to express my sentiments. This is just wrong.

And the president of the United States of America was threatening that Social Security checks would not get paid and other necessary services would not get paid or be late. Never once did he mention cutting the salaries or benefits or luxuries of Congress. None of the top people who could most afford it were ask to give up anything. What are these “leaders” thinking of? What planet are they living on? Someone needs to fill these people on the facts of reality.

GRRush: Don, if 1.7 percent increase was good enough for our armed forces and seniors I do not see why the county government would warrant a three percent increase.

dmckee9613@aol.com