Nearly everything in life requires a plan. People plan our their work weeks, weekends, their vacations, their retirements. They plan weddings and funerals. Without a plan, any given event can be problematic, with unforeseen issues cropping up where least expected — issues that can cost time, money and hardship.

For quite some time, a faction of Beaufort County residents have been entreating Beaufort County Commissioners and staff to make a plan. Stop The Jail committee head Harold Smith has stood before commissioners several times during the Board’s public comment period at the regular monthly meetings, asking that the Board come up with short term goals, middle-range goals and long-term goals; as has Beaufort County Tea Party member Buzz Cayton. Lately, county resident Warren Smith has brought up the same: Beaufort County needs a plan.

This week, the fiscal year 2015-16 county manager’s recommended budget was released. Two years ago, the county budget had $51.67 million of expenditures. The 2015-16 budget is closer to $57.97 million.

Where did that $6.3 million and 12-percent increase over two years come from?

The answer: from Beaufort County taxpayers.

Over the next several days, commissioners will meet to discuss the specifics of the 2015-16 budget, approving some requested amounts or deciding to increase or decrease the totals for which various entities have asked. If local taxpayers are interested in where their money is being spent and why, these budget workshops Monday and Tuesday, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the county administrative offices, are an ideal spot to find out the who, what, where and why. The workshops are open to the public.

Every property owner is required to pay taxes. No property owner is required to witness how that money is spent, but it might a good idea. Perhaps with enough public interest, the county will be inspired to do what several people have been calling for: create a plan, with a goal to build a better Beaufort County.

The county administrative office is located at 121 W. Third St., Washington. Budget workshops are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, with a third workshop on Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. if all budget business is not concluded in the first two workshops.