From Nick Bidmead.
AT a time when confidence in our States Members is at an all-time low, I would like to highlight actually how clever they are.

A few years ago it was suggested that the tax relief on mortgages be capped. The States then suggested a very low threshold which they knew would never be approved. All opposition groups jumped straight on the bandwagon suggesting much higher limits.

In doing so, the States had already won the battle because by suggesting a higher limit, it was accepted that the mortgage relief would be capped; all that was left to do was settle on the limit, which was probably where the States wanted it to be in the first place.

The opposition should have fought against any capping, not what the limit should be set at.

So the States successfully used smoke and mirrors to get a reduction in tax relief.
Now it starts all over again. The States need to make real cuts and hard decisions.

Rather than making these hard choices to balance States spending, they have brought out the smoke and mirrors. They pick on easy and emotional targets, like school milk, diabetics, hospital therapy pools – how can we not afford this but can bail out (excuse the pun) the Waterfront pool? And beach lifeguards, etc, which they know the public will make a big fuss about.

Let’s get real: none of these cuts will make a dent in the amount of savings required.
At some point in the near future, after the opposition has caused a large enough fuss, the States will make an announcement rescinding some if not all these cuts. At which time they will say, ‘Oh dear, we tried to make cuts but you the public wouldn’t let us, so now we will have to raise taxes to cover the ever-increasing cost of running the Island.’

Also why does it take the States years to investigate employment complaints while the accused are suspended on full pay? In the real world, companies wouldn’t do this; they make sure things are processed in a timely fashion and if required they make the hard decisions and stand by the consequences.

The same applies to staff who are unfit to carry out their duties. In the real world, a decision is made, but in the States the person is moved sideways with less responsibility but still paid the same money.

This continues until the staff member finally has enough and leaves on his or her own accord – an easy result for the States’ human resources -unless they don’t care and sit back enjoying the large salary and less and less responsibility until they retire.
The States need to grow a backbone and make real decisions. Yes, they will be hard, but this is no different from decisions taken by any other employer in the real world every week.

States Members, please don’t just pick on the easy targets and take the easy route of raising taxes from the man in the street.

• Read more letters to the editor in today’s Jersey Evening Post