Read my lips: no new taxes.

The first President Bush made it a famous, and now annoying, political catchphrase during his 1988 presidential campaign. After the election, Bush relented and his wavering ultimately cost him the election.

No taxpayer wants more taxes; so promising to avoid tax hikes or even decrease taxes is election gold for candidates.

But when the campaign signs are down and the budget is on the table, the buck stops.

At least two of the recently elected Adams County supervisors printed in campaign advertisements that they would vote to “lower taxes.”

In January, the board will likely take on a different mentality than it has now. Three supervisors have openly said they want to cut spending, save money and tighten the belt all around.

And there’s nothing wrong with that.

Our county doesn’t need to spend hard-earned taxpayer money wastefully.

But the board doesn’t need to cut budgets haphazardly either.

As January approaches and the next four years follow, the new board needs to carefully consider exactly what it’s going to be cutting in order to lower our taxes.

Cutting taxes in any significant way likely means cutting services in some way shape or form.

The board members and the voters who elected them need to think about exactly what services they can live without.

You just can’t have your cake and save it too. Just ask George Bush.