Just when I was beginning to feel sorry for politicians and the tasks that await this year’s legislators trying to whack at least $1.2 billion out of the state’s budget, our local Pima County Board of Supervisors goes and approves a plan to use photo enforcement for speeding.

I know, I know. It’s two different groups of politicians. But it got me to thinking.

When three of the five supervisors, the Democrats, voted on Jan. 6 to begin the photo traffic enforcement program, they called it a “public safety” issue. Oh, and, by the way, it will bring in $1.5 million a year in revenue.

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How stupid do they think we are? Well, they may have us. We did just re-elect them last year. In the spirit of giving credit for honesty where credit is due, it needs to noted Republican Supervisors Ray Carroll and Ann Day argued and voted against the plan largely seeing it as a revenue generator.

Just think what might have happened if voters in District 3 had elected Republican Barney Brenner two months ago instead of Sharon Bronson. Or if either Richard Elías or Ramón Valadez had faced a serious challenger. Just one more vote and the county would not have approved this solution for “public safety.”

Though apparently, it’s a huge issue in Elías’ westside District 5. “Given the way people speed in my district, this is not a revenue generator, it’s a public safety issue,” Elías was quoted as saying in the Green Valley News.

And does that mean Elías is encouraging the Sheriff’s Department to place the photo equipment in his district? Have fun folks on the westside; you voted for him, you got him.

I’m all for the city’s plan to put in photo enforcement for red light runners. I don’t know if there’s any confirmation of this but it seems to me the intersections where they operate are safer and move more efficiently.

But there’s a difference between safety and revenue enhancement for government.

Which brings me back to the state lawmakers who are gathering this week in Phoenix for the 49th Legislature’s session.

The leadership is insisting no other business will be taken up until after the budget issues are resolved. That’s not likely to happen until some time after Thursday (Jan. 15) when the change of executive power in the state takes place with the departure of Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano for Washington, D.C., and she is replaced by Republican Jan Brewer.

This year’s budget shortfalls are big and serious issues for all governments. They will have to be met with a judicious combination of spending cuts and, much as I hate to admit it, revenue increases. I think we all get that. Businesses have had to face their own issues on that score.

But, please politicians, don’t lie to us about what you’re doing. One of these days we might wise up. 

 E-mail comments for publication to editor@azbiz.com. Contact David Hatfield at dhatfield@azbiz.com or (520) 295-4237.