We have no complaints with our county employees. We have no doubt that many of them work very hard and are very dedicated.

We also have no doubt that there are many taxpayers of Rockdale County who own businesses or work for a company that have struggled very hard to pay their bills during this economic recession we have suffered through since 2008. In fact many have lost their job or home - and in some cases both.

This past year, a majority of the county commissioners made a decision to raise the milleage rate again without much regard to cutting expenses.

This year looks like it'll be just as slim for county revenues, with early predictions of property values and tax digest still in the pits.

That is why that the Commissioners' recent move to pay county employees a $1,000 bonus is not only reprehensible, it is a total show of real contempt for every taxpaying citizen in this county, including the 700 county employees.

This so-called-bonus is in fact no more than a robbery of the county treasury. Like little kids who find some extra change in their pocket, they rush out to spend it and don't think of the bills they have waiting at home.

It's time that Commissioners Oden and Nesbitt start thinking about the majority of the people whom they represent, especially when it comes to their hard earned tax money.