Sound Off highlights anonymous, brief takes on the news offered via telephone by Daily News readers.

Tough talk and dumb comments may sell newspapers but do not balance county budgets. Did the six assistant county commissioners make any comments as they tentatively hacked out one-tenth of 1 percent of the county budget? They could better balance the budget if they were out collecting aluminum cans.

I want to know will the Beaufort County commissioners, as an act of good faith, cut from the budget their stipends and benefits for being county commissioners? It is only fair if they are going to cut the arts and programs that help people learn to read.

An out-of-town visitor to Haven’s Gardens on Monday asked why the railroad crossing is so rough to cross. I told her it had been that way for three long years and getting worse every day.

I vote to keep Sound Off in the paper. I know there are lots of negative comments, but it does give people the opportunity to voice positive comments once in a while.

Sound Off: keep it! I love it!

Sound Off comments are screened for subject matter, clarity and length of message. Call 252-940-4215 to comment, (30 seconds maximum time). (All submissions are subject to editing).