Rutherford County Republican Party Chairman, Austin Maxwell had the following comments about the City of Smyrna’s Budget issues, “Congratulations to Mayor Tony Dover and the Smyrna Town Council for having the courage to actually consider cutting government services and employees in light of a potential budget shortfall. While Democrat Mayor Karl Dean of Nashville is proposing to raise taxes, some of our local leaders like Mayor Dover are actually doing what we have elected them to do:  be fiscally responsible and wise stewards of our limited tax dollars and when faced with potential shortfalls. These responsible trustees of the taxpayers hard earned money are poised to cut the size of government instead of sticking the proverbial asking the taxpayers to give more of their hard earned dollars to fund runaway government spending.”

“I understand that the decisions ahead for Mayor Dover and the Smyrna Town Council will not be easy. I cannot imagine that any reduction in government services is desired by the elected officials or employees of the Town. To make difficult cuts is just that—difficult. There are faces and names attached to positions in any government reduction and that will truly be a difficult aspect, but it is one that must be faced or the City Government can choose the alternative of raising taxes. Whether it is the Smyrna Town Council, Murfreesboro City Council or Rutherford County Commission—now is not the time to raise taxes and we must send a clear message to our elected officials that they need to reduce the size of government. It is imperative that we support all of our local leaders who are willing to pull back the reigns of the “tax and spend” mentality that has caused our government debt to get out of control. I support Mayor Dover’s quest to find ways to cut government waste, rather than raise taxes.”

“Ultimately it is still an unknown as to what the final budget will look like for Smyrna, but the willingness of the Mayor and the council to actually consider shrinking the size of government instead of instinctively raising taxes is refreshing. I find it refreshing to see one of our local legislative bodies actually exploring solutions first from within instead of going to the government playbook of asking for a tax increase time and time again. I would encourage all of our legislative bodies in Rutherford County to explore the same options should we be faced with similar shortfalls.”