In fact, SD1 rates climbed 15 percent in 2008, 20 percent in 2009, and are due to rise 15 percent this year and another 15 percent in 2011. The problem here is that the Board of Directors at SD1 aren’t elected, yet they can raise our sewer fees anytime they please. So where is the accountability to the citizen?

In an article in The Kentucky Enquirer on February 22nd, an attorney for Sanitation District 1 was quoted as saying “Our budgets are approved annually by the judges-executive (of the three counties).” In fact, the judges-executive make the appointments to the Board of Directors too.

It is deeply troubling to me that our current judge-executive could have been a part of the solution to protect us against these massive fee increases, but was instead was part of the problem. The problem is so unchecked that SD1 is even charging fees to Campbell County residents who don’t have SD1 sewer access in rural parts of the county.

Some have suggested that SD1 should be placed under the authority of the Kentucky Public Service Commission to approve proposed rate increases. However I believe we don’t need another group of Frankfort bureaucrats telling Northern Kentucky what to do. After all, I want to limit more government by having due diligence at the local level. The key to solving this problem is having a Judge-Executive whose board appointees won’t tax us every chance they get.

It’s not just SD1 either. The Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK), the Northern Kentucky Water District, and others all need board appointments from a Judge-Executive willing to void the status quo and do the right thing.

The consolidation of government services shouldn’t happen in order to create a bigger government bureaucracy that can raise taxes higher than ever before on unsuspecting homeowners. I believe that it should happen to make government more accountable to the citizens they serve and to provide the service at a lower cost.

If I am elected Campbell County Judge-Executive, I would make board appointments to SD1, TANK, and others who would value the public opinion against these fee increases. Unlike my opponent, I would welcome more oversight on these quasi-governmental agencies. Finally, I would look to all areas of county government for ways to combine government services that serve your needs over county government’s needs.

Kevin Sell
Republican Candidate
Campbell County Judge-Executive 2010
(859) 743-6363
kevins@one.net

This article was sent to the Recorder and the Enquirer on March 5, 2010.

As I talk with people on the campaign trail across Campbell County, many voters want to know why I am running for Judge-Executive. The main reason I am running for this office is so our county government heads in a new direction that serves people, not the politicians. More specifically, I want to change the way our county leadership spends our tax dollars.

It has become routine for the county to tax our family checkbook more and more each year. For example, the property tax has increased several times in the last 11 years compounding to an increase of 54% more in 2010, than what we were paying just over a decade ago. Such an increase is no way to govern at first glance, so one would hope that the windfall of tax dollars at the county’s disposal would be spent on growing our local economy and improving the quality of life in Campbell County. But in reality, our leaders are spending the money on things like a new county administration building and a clock tower.

This kind of cavalier behavior is happening in other parts of government as well. Congress is also spending money at record pace right now with dubious results. At the state level, the recent abuses by the Kentucky Associations of Counties (KACo) and the Kentucky League of Cities (KLC) cry out for reform. When government spends money on itself before it spends money in our communities, it hurts businesses and families that are struggling to make ends meet in a shaky economy.

If I were elected Judge-Executive, I would look to do the same with less. My goal is to apply the same budget cutting techniques as we do in business and as I have done in the public sector. I will look to every department and service for further reductions. I will also look at areas to consolidate such as Sheriff’s office and County Police, Housing Authorities, and potential inter-county services.

We must bring back a proper respect for the taxpayer dollar. As much as this culture of overspending taxpayer money is an institutional problem across government, it won’t just take budget cuts from within. It will also take leadership from our top officials to change this cut, putting words to action. That is why if I am elected to Judge-Executive, I will not accept a pay increase during my first term in office. With the economy in the current state that it’s in, not many of us are getting raises, while some are not even getting paychecks. To accept more money from the public coffers as some of our county leaders have would be reckless and irresponsible. Just as increasing your tax burden in these tough economic times would be reckless and irresponsible.

In the coming months, I will present more ideas on how we can build a prosperous future for Campbell County, streamline government services, and protect the rights of all Campbell County residents if I am elected.

Kevin Sell
KevinSell2010@gmail.com
(Phone number for media contact is 859-743-6363)

November 19, 2009

5PM: Silver Grove Fire Dept.

6PM: Alexandria Courthouse (Get Directions)

7PM: Newport Courthouse – York Street. (Get Directions)