An excerpt from state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe’s latest newsletter, dated Winter 2013, reads:

“In addition to the battles I am involved in on behalf of taxpayers with state elected leaders, I also oppose the efforts of local elected officials, community organizers and bureaucrats who want to gain access to more of your tax dollars from the state treasury. For example, the Butler County Commissioners, who have raised our property taxes, also lobbied me to vote for the gas tax increase.”

After reading this statement, I thought something is just not right, and here is why.

First: “Battles ... with state elected leaders.” These leaders were also elected by their constituents and should be worked with and not battled to find solutions.

Second: “Oppose efforts of ... elected officials, community organizers and bureaucrats ... to gain access of tax dollars from the state.” Again, oppose and not worked with to find solutions. They don’t want to gain access, just properly and smartly appropriated tax dollars.

Third: “Commissioners ... raised our property taxes ... (and) lobbied for the gas tax. What? Raised property taxes once in the past 5 years that amounts to about a $25 increase on a house worth $150,000? And wanted a yes vote for the transportation bill? Liquid fuels tax had not been increased in 12 years — I’m sure that made quite a strain on the local municipalities and county budgets to fix our roads, it’s an unfortunate tax that sorely needed to be raised.

A good legislator should not berate commissioners, elected officials and community organizers but use civility and work to try to find good solutions.