The Amador Water Agency is attempting to meet its budget - and it's discussing rate hikes, layoffs, salary reductions, furloughs and reductions in travel compensation.

With those items in mind the decisions clearly point to the mindset of elected officials. Rate hikes are approved. Layoffs are approved. Salary reductions for staff are approved. Furloughs for staff are approved. Reductions in expense items for staff are approved. How about salary reductions for elected officials? Not a chance.

For the Amador Water Agency, when the discussion of reduction of directors' salaries is brought up, the answer comes out like seven-year-olds whining about how unfair the world is. The justification from the Amador Water Agency Director's varies from director to director - the $4,000 per year savings is only one one-hundredth of the total budget, with the time spent doing what is required of a director "I am only making around $5 an hour for my time," or "with four new directors, if ever there was a year this agency needed the highest effort and support from its directors, this is it."

When you are raising rates, asking staff for salary reductions and furloughs, and laying off personnel, you had better lead the way by taking a pay cut yourself . The cut makes a statement. Lead the way by showing that you are willing to take the hit that you are telling the remaining staff to take.

As for the $5 an hour rate for your time, I'd suggest you got it completely wrong. Remember, you decided you wanted to be elected to the position - you wanted the job to represent me. It isn't $5 an hour for your time, it's my time, and my representation. It's the type of statement that leads me to believe that you wanted to get elected for money, benefits and possible future positioning for other government positions, where you can further rip me off, along with the rest of Amador County.

The mentality of the Amador Water Agency Directors, with the exception of President Terrence Moore - who went on the record that he was prepared to reduce his director's salary - represents the exact problem with California government.

Real leadership would not only ask their staff to make sacrifices, but would lead the way by reducing their own compensation at the same time.

For my part, any elected officials who are unwilling to accept that they are not above the rules, who are unwilling to share in decreased compensation they so easily lay out for the staff, aren't worth a spit.

Are we really in this together, or do you believe you are above the rest of us and deserve your own set of rules? For my vote, start the cuts at your level and work your way down. Anything less is poor leadership and poor management and we deserve better.