LETTERS ABOUT CHARTER

Home Rule Charter Government

Dear Editor,

posted 3/20/2006
People's expectation that this new form of government is going to be revenue neutral will not become reality in my view.

The county government can scarcely get by on revenue currently generated and that revenue fluctuates with the economy. Property tax is a stable source of revenue but reflects a relatively small portion of the county budget.

It is doubtful that county council people will accept low wages for high expectations from their constituents. Elected officials in this county are working folks that participate in the day to day functions of their office and they should be paid similarly to other elected officials in comparable counties. The County Administrator will help tremendously in the daily duties required to run county government but this person can't do it all nor should we have this expectation.

This is the 100th year celebration of the county courthouse and the first year of Charter government. I would hope that our expectations of this government will meet the desired results the Freeholders had in mind when they proposed this Charter to the electorate last November, without breaking the bank.

My hope of this new form of government is slowly turning to doubt about the outcome of what we are about to put into place. I hope I am proven wrong.

Paul Dossett
Assessor

Charting A Course Under The New Charter

Dear Editor,

posted 3/13/2006
As the County Council sets sail under its new charter, establishing a set of policies and procedures to maintain a wise course and stay off the rocks ought to worth considering. The hardest part of doing this is remembering to protect us from ourselves. The line given to Pogo is accurate, "We have met the enemy and they are us." Clear policies and procedures that are widely known are a good start to plotting a course through the reefs and rocks of these islands. Staying on course isn't always easy. Partisanship is less of a problem than special or narrow interests seeking their preferred option versus a thorough look at options, costs and consequences over time.

There are more than enough observers of our county government to recollect recent examples that might have been improved upon to suggest areas for polices, guidelines, safeguards or guide posts. There is no shortage of intelligence or talent. All parties should be invited: employees, citizens, attorneys, department heads, vendors, mossbacks, starry-eyed eye, and level-headed. This is an task where people are likely contribute a lot of the work necessary for informed choices given a structured working arrangement rather than additional work for the Council. Up to three of the expanded council could legally participate in the process on any one area before it reaches the full council agenda for final consideration and action.

From my personal experience I believe the top areas for consideration would be policies in the areas of: (1) prudence, the precautionary principle which is essentially do no harm , (2) how legislative or project proposals are presented for consideration, (3) the acceptance and processing of complaints, grievances, or concerns, (4) fiscal planning and management.

The precautionary principle is useful for getting things right. Haste not only often makes waste, it often complicates, increases costs, and creates additional problems. The true measure of success is how well things are done. If things appear to require quick action, will a monitoring and correction procedure be set in place? Too often legislative proposals are crafted by interested individuals or groups and presented as the true path that will "solve" their described problem. Often there is little or no serious consideration of the realities of the problem or the scope of options that may be available. Proposed legislation or new projects should be required to acknowledge options and to consider costs, benefits, and consequences both short and long term. Very few issues require immediate action. True emergencies would be exempt.

Potential emergencies: earthquake, tsunami, severe storms, etc., should be areas where actions plans and responsible individuals are already in place and are reviewed at regular intervals. I trust the County's current emergency plan is more up to date than its solid waste management plan.

Trust is essential to effective delegated governance. When actions or results are viewed as incorrect, harmful, illegal, or opposed to community values, trust is easily lost unless there a clearly understood system of correction or at least clarification. A clear policy and procedures for grievances, complaints, and corrections is essential. The system must be as open as possible, prompt, fair to all sides, protect privacy rights, and leave a legally acceptable paper trail.

Fiscal resources have been and will remain a constraint on county endeavors. The issue has been dealt with mostly by robbing Peter (road funds) to pay Paul (Sheriff's Department), depending on grants which often distort the allocation of resources (other peoples money often with strings attached), using revenue bonds rather than voter approved general obligation bonds, cutting services, contracting services to nonprofit organizations, and holding down salaries and expenses generally. There has not been a serious attempt to address this issue.

San Juan County has a high assessed valuation. It has a small population. It exists in relative isolation. A substantial portion of the property tax is paid by absentee owners. Serious discussion of the vision and goals of the county in light of reality needs to take place. Then fiscal guidelines can be developed to avoid lurching from issue to issue on emotions and narrow interests rather than consensus and fiscal prudence. Revenue bonds based on one percent of assessed valuation are basically mortgages that must necessarily restrict future expenditures reducing fiscal flexibility to meet changed circumstances. Voters may well prefer a say.

Choices such as pot holes or pot busts and courtroom space versus a slow legal system are choices that citizens can understand. Finding common ground and having accountability is easier when every thing is announced well in advance, done openly, well recorded, and promptly made widely available. Notices and agendas posted early, minutes out promptly, and web site up to date. Keep it clear, simple as possible, and highly visible.

James Alfred Smith

SAN JUAN ISLANDER © 2008

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