Ullman: I’ll be a true servant leader for Ada County

For more than 20 years, I have advocated on behalf of taxpayers in Ada County on issues such as water and sewer rates, schools, emergency preparedness, public records access and open meetings.

I do not take money from special interests or county contractors and am not bought and paid for. Therefore, I view issues from a citizen perspective.

It is imperative that we resolve the issue of Magistrate Court funding. The obvious solution is for the cities, the counties and their respective associations to go to the Idaho Legislature to add a fee for service to every charge (DUI, speeding ticket, etc.) handled by the Magistrate Court.

If this six-year fight continues, everyone loses. Instead, the funding issue simply needs to be addressed. The reasonable and obvious solution, a user fee, is fair and simple and would end the ongoing battle between the cities and county. Ada County needs a leader who is committed to making it happen.

The people deserve to have elected officials who do their homework, know the facts and make practical decisions based on what is best for the community, not cronyism, lack of insight or political favors.

If the same decision-maker is left in office, expect the same results: skyrocketing property taxes and costly decisions with little or no improvement in service.

During my second term, my board left $81 million in the pockets of taxpayers. In four years, the tax portion of the county budget increased a grand total of $3.12 million — just 3.66 percent, the amount generated by new construction.

In the three years since I have been off the board, the tax portion of the Ada County budget has increased a whopping $20.93 million — 23.66 percent!

The notion that the county was in dire financial straits or near bankruptcy when I left office in 2013, as the incumbent commissioner alleges, is election-year rhetoric from a tax-and-spend liberal. Ada County was in excellent financial shape when I left office, despite a six-year commitment to not raising taxes:

▪ All bills were paid and legal obligations were fulfilled.

▪ The county carried forward $25 million unspent from FY 2013 into the following year’s budget.

▪ The county had well over $30 million saved to pay off courthouse bonds.

Lies do not become truth just because they are often repeated. If you are tired of the election-year rhetoric, political spin and false claims, I invite you to visit my website and blog at sharonu.com .

While I was in office and during this campaign, I have written numerous articles to bring you factual information so you do not have to rely on the media, whose goal is to sell papers and television ads, not necessarily to bring you the facts.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at sharonu2013@gmail.com. If you want an Ada County commissioner who is a true servant leader, I would appreciate your support and your vote Tuesday . Thank you.

This story was originally published May 11, 2016 at 5:55 PM with the headline "Ullman: I’ll be a true servant leader for Ada County."