By SAM HATCHER

The Wilson County Commission will be faced with a tough “gut check” question Monday night.

Looking at a much discussed property tax increase, commissioners must decide whether this county can move forward and continue its progress on the tax rate in place or does the county need additional revenue to not just let us “get by” as many other counties around us are doing but to actually take leaping steps forward.

They must decide whether Wilson County’s financial stress is a spending issue or a revenue issue.

Those sitting on this local government legislative body no doubt want to do the right thing.

And they will.

But please don’t put our county in the position that we have seen a neighboring county occupy over the past several days.

We can all be Monday morning quarterbacks. We can all tell you what we think and how best to run county government.

But in truth we don’t really have the answers. That’s why we elected you. We have confidence in you and are confident you will act in our best interest.

All of us want what’s best for us.

Sometimes that can be selfish. It’s like the old story that quips . . . “the most important road in Wilson County is the road that runs in front of your house.”

This issue is bigger than you or I.

It’s about our future. It’s about making Wilson County the best it can be.

We’re on a good track.

We are the second wealthiest county in Tennessee; home sales are busting out the roof; public schools here are listed among the best in the state and life is good throughout Wilson County.

Let’s keep things going in the right direction.

Do what you need to do. Your decision will affect Wilson County for a very long time.