Editor:

    In keeping with having County Government become more
transparent I would like to explain the impact of our recent 4.99
percent increase to the FY07 budget. In essence it means the average
homeowner would pay approximately $6 more toward county services. It
should be made clear that this $6 is the Total increase for the entire
year! Put another way, it means that a homeowner with a home value at
$224,000 would pay $117.99 in county taxes for FY07.

Cumberland County Government has proven to be a cost efficient and cost
effective way in delivering services to our citizens. Our jail is the
only accredited jail in the state and staffed by professional deputies
working under extremely harsh conditions. Our jail is maintained to
provide a healthy, safe, secure, humane, and cost effective environment
in which to detain persons alleged or convicted of legal violations.
The Sheriff’s road patrol deputies and support services provide public
safety in addition to working closely with communities and other
counties ranging from providing OUI road blocks, operating after
license suspension in addition to drug and sex offenders investigation
plus accident scene reconstruction for both state and local law
enforcement agencies.

    The Cumberland County District Attorney’s office
prosecutes the criminal and civil infractions for the state, against
people who are accused of breaking the law in Cumberland County. The
Cumberland County Regional Communication Center provides public safety
agencies that we service, with the highest possible standards of Public
Safety communications by working with communities in the County. Our
Deeds office maintains and preserves all documents recorded in the
Registry, and provides the public with rapid and convenient access to
recorded documents.

Additionally, the Registry of Probate whose mission is to fulfill the
legal requirements for processing estates, guardianships plus name
changes and adoptions; we have the Emergency Management Agency which
continues to cultivate efforts to prepare for disaster from floods,
terrorism and weapons of mass destruction.

As we continually reach out to the 27 communities within Cumberland
County with attempts of consolidation and collaboration in sharing
resources and methods in reducing costs we recognize the achievements
come slowly, however in doing so, working together, it can be done.

I invite you to visit our website, www.cumberlandcounty.org where more information is available on County Government.

Sincerely,

Richard J. Feeney, Chair

Commissioner, Cumberland County