Editor, Gazette-Journal:

In regards to the recent advertised Mathews County budget increase, supervisor Janine Burns summed it up rather appropriately, if not an understatement: “Nobody’s going to be thrilled.” Other comments by board members confirmed a consensus for the proposed tax increase. The board members are “anticipating the future in making the hard choices to move forward.”

Meanwhile, it is apparent that Mathews County is experiencing similar budget difficulties as many other city, state and federal agencies. These many increasing demands, coupled with a declining tax base, are causing revenue shortfalls throughout the country. As one example, the total unfunded pension liabilities add more than $2.5 trillion to America’s current debt. Even under the current accounting methods, all state and local governments are facing massive shortfalls.

Incomes within the private sector, which, after all, are the only source for government income, ha...