COUNTY COMMISSION TO RECEIVE AWARD FOR DOLLAR MANAGEMENT

JACKSON - The Cape Girardeau County Commission will be presented an award for "excellent management of tax dollars" today by the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste and the Taxpayer's Action Network.

The national field director of the Taxpayer's Action Network, Mark Colucci, will be here from Washington, D.C., to present an award to each of the commissioners.

The presentation will be at 11:30 a.m. at the regular meeting of the commission in Jackson.

"From careful review of the Cape Girardeau County budget, the Council of Citizens Against Government Waste has found Gene Huckstep (presiding commissioner) and the County Commission to be excellent managers of our tax dollars," said Julia Kridelbaugh, executive director of the CCAGW of Southeast Missouri.

"The Cape Girardeau County Commission is a shining example of what simple, sound management of tax dollars can do."

The commission was selected for the award based on its management abilities and an ability to manage the budget in the "black" while keeping tax increases contained," said Kridelbaugh.

Dorothy Ank, president of the Cape County Taxpayer's Action Network, said the award reflects well on the kind of government people in Cape County have.

"It is an honor to have Mr. Colucci in Cape Girardeau and it is an honor for us to be able to present this type of award to our county commissioners," said Ank.

In addition to presenting the award to the commission, Colucci will also speak at various places around the county, including a speech to the Cape Girardeau Evening Optimist Club on Thursday evening.