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Letters to the Editor

Nannette McKay: Supervisors should remodel their thinking, not their office space

Re “County supervisors approve $578K remodel for hiring center” (Page 3A, Jan. 24): Business as usual at the city and county government. Would a private business that depends on customer revenue so easily pay $100 per square foot to remodel office space that rents for $1.64 per square foot? In response to county supervisors sharing office space, in our “for profit” business my partner and I have shared an office for close to 20 years because we are not in the office on a full-time basis. It seems like a prudent use of resources.

If a “skills shortage” is pushing salaries higher, maybe we should consider using funds to increase salaries to attract top-notch talent rather than remodel.

It is always easier to approve spending taxpayer dollars than private funds. But what do I know about running county government, I’ve only run a successful practice for 28 years.

Nannette McKay, Modesto

This story was originally published January 24, 2018 at 12:03 PM with the headline "Nannette McKay: Supervisors should remodel their thinking, not their office space."

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