Commission For Sale
My Op-Ed sent to the Salina [Kansas] Journal, followed by the editorial concerned:
Apparently, Tom Bell wants the best County Commission that the private sector can rent or buy.
Under Mr. Bell's proposal to pay Commissioners a paltry $300.00 per month, it would be virtually impossible for people with full-time employment to dedicate the time and energy needed to properly serve. But perhaps that is the idea.
One likely outcome would be that those able to put in the substantial time and effort required of the office would have to be wealthy or retired. The dearth of seniors clamoring to work for a pittance during the sunset of their lives quickly dispels the latter notion.
Alternatively, Commissioners could spend very limited time at their duties, doing an extremely mediocre job and letting the proverbial inmates run the asylum. Mr. Bell seems to relish that prospect.
A third option would be for Commissioners to emulate Congress. A little research at http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/index.asp will illustrate how Saline County's government could be bought and sold through the creative use of bribes, er, "campaign contributions", just as with Congress. Take away the ability of Commissioners of modest means to serve, and the power of that office too will gravitate toward those able to purchase influence.
$26,561 plus benefits annually is certainly not too much to spend for a dedicated, quality, County Commissioner. The Commission is responsible for establishing and reviewing many laws and policies that have a significant impact on the community. Supervision of numerous County Departments, such as the Appraiser's Office that has been running amok for years, is no easy task, although Mr. Bell would apparently prefer to allow department heads to operate with no meaningful oversight from the Commission. In Mr. Bell's world, the power of County agencies would, as a practical matter, be limited only and rarely by those few who are wealthy enough to spend substantial sums on attorney fees they will not be reimbursed for in the event they prevail over the government. Last but not least, determining spending priorities for a $27 million budget, and ensuring those funds are properly spent, should not be reduced to an underpaid Commission lacking the time to do anything more than rubber-stamp whatever is placed before it.
A separate question is whether Saline County is getting Commissioners worthy of holding such an important public office. However, in order to have an informed citizenry capable of selecting the most qualified candidates, one must have solid reporting and analysis from the news media. Unfortunately, when the primary source of news drops the ball, preferring to let expensive-and profitable for the newspaper-but vapid campaign ads inform the public, the intellects of the voters could starve to death given the steady diet of drivel they are consistently served.
Terry L. Clark
___________________________
Opinion - Page A07
August 6, 2006
Rich pay ought to be cut
County commission pay is so high it can attract candidates interested mostly in money
Tom Bell, Editor & Publisher
During recent budget talks, members of the Hutchinson City Council eliminated their own $100-a-month pay, starting when new terms begin in April 2007.
What a splendid idea to adopt locally -- particularly for the handsomely paid Saline County commissioners. The paychecks they draw for their part-time jobs total $26,561 a year. Plus commissioners give themselves benefits that total $6,300 to nearly $10,000 annually, depending on health insurance choices.
That is way too much money.
(Salina City commissioners, like their counterparts in Hutchinson, are paid a token amount -- $300 per month in Salina. That's about minimum wage considering the hours commissioners spend in study sessions, talking with residents, hearing complaints, attending various commissions and boards, and making courtesy appearances at public events.)
In contrast, the pay for county commissioners is so high people will campaign for office because they need the income and county medical benefits. That's not proper motivation to run for public office. Candidates should have passion for their community and their constituents. (This is not saying current commissioners campaigned for the cash. But it has been true in the past and will be true in the future.)
Another reason to reduce or eliminate county commission pay is to make county government more efficient. If commissioners were paid $300 per month with no benefits, like city commissioners, they would make better use of their time. Now they hang around the City-County Building whether the commission has business or not. They micromanage county matters and debate minor details better left to administrative staff.
After the fall elections a new face will join the county commission. Let's hope this is the start of a new era in county government -- where commissioners will eliminate generous pay and the problems that come with it.
Apparently, Tom Bell wants the best County Commission that the private sector can rent or buy.
Under Mr. Bell's proposal to pay Commissioners a paltry $300.00 per month, it would be virtually impossible for people with full-time employment to dedicate the time and energy needed to properly serve. But perhaps that is the idea.
One likely outcome would be that those able to put in the substantial time and effort required of the office would have to be wealthy or retired. The dearth of seniors clamoring to work for a pittance during the sunset of their lives quickly dispels the latter notion.
Alternatively, Commissioners could spend very limited time at their duties, doing an extremely mediocre job and letting the proverbial inmates run the asylum. Mr. Bell seems to relish that prospect.
A third option would be for Commissioners to emulate Congress. A little research at http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/index.asp will illustrate how Saline County's government could be bought and sold through the creative use of bribes, er, "campaign contributions", just as with Congress. Take away the ability of Commissioners of modest means to serve, and the power of that office too will gravitate toward those able to purchase influence.
$26,561 plus benefits annually is certainly not too much to spend for a dedicated, quality, County Commissioner. The Commission is responsible for establishing and reviewing many laws and policies that have a significant impact on the community. Supervision of numerous County Departments, such as the Appraiser's Office that has been running amok for years, is no easy task, although Mr. Bell would apparently prefer to allow department heads to operate with no meaningful oversight from the Commission. In Mr. Bell's world, the power of County agencies would, as a practical matter, be limited only and rarely by those few who are wealthy enough to spend substantial sums on attorney fees they will not be reimbursed for in the event they prevail over the government. Last but not least, determining spending priorities for a $27 million budget, and ensuring those funds are properly spent, should not be reduced to an underpaid Commission lacking the time to do anything more than rubber-stamp whatever is placed before it.
A separate question is whether Saline County is getting Commissioners worthy of holding such an important public office. However, in order to have an informed citizenry capable of selecting the most qualified candidates, one must have solid reporting and analysis from the news media. Unfortunately, when the primary source of news drops the ball, preferring to let expensive-and profitable for the newspaper-but vapid campaign ads inform the public, the intellects of the voters could starve to death given the steady diet of drivel they are consistently served.
Terry L. Clark
___________________________
Opinion - Page A07
August 6, 2006
Rich pay ought to be cut
County commission pay is so high it can attract candidates interested mostly in money
Tom Bell, Editor & Publisher
During recent budget talks, members of the Hutchinson City Council eliminated their own $100-a-month pay, starting when new terms begin in April 2007.
What a splendid idea to adopt locally -- particularly for the handsomely paid Saline County commissioners. The paychecks they draw for their part-time jobs total $26,561 a year. Plus commissioners give themselves benefits that total $6,300 to nearly $10,000 annually, depending on health insurance choices.
That is way too much money.
(Salina City commissioners, like their counterparts in Hutchinson, are paid a token amount -- $300 per month in Salina. That's about minimum wage considering the hours commissioners spend in study sessions, talking with residents, hearing complaints, attending various commissions and boards, and making courtesy appearances at public events.)
In contrast, the pay for county commissioners is so high people will campaign for office because they need the income and county medical benefits. That's not proper motivation to run for public office. Candidates should have passion for their community and their constituents. (This is not saying current commissioners campaigned for the cash. But it has been true in the past and will be true in the future.)
Another reason to reduce or eliminate county commission pay is to make county government more efficient. If commissioners were paid $300 per month with no benefits, like city commissioners, they would make better use of their time. Now they hang around the City-County Building whether the commission has business or not. They micromanage county matters and debate minor details better left to administrative staff.
After the fall elections a new face will join the county commission. Let's hope this is the start of a new era in county government -- where commissioners will eliminate generous pay and the problems that come with it.
posted by TLC's Place at 1:04 PM
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