4b) Discussion and Possible Action Including Direction to Staff to Develop a Contingency Plan for Creation of Department of Finance Based on Best Practice of Successful Counties
(Sponsors: Supervisor Williams and Supervisor McGourty)
On behalf of Coast Democratic Club Leadership Team, I am writing in support for this item. Best Practices for our County is what we expect. Based on the discussions concerning the County budget, it would be prudent to have a plan developed for the creation of a Department of Finance. Karen Bowers, Coast Club Chair. www.coastdemocraticclub.org
I want to mention that on the surface, this action seems like an attack on the Auditor Controller Treasurer Tax Collector's office. I recognize the importance of having good financial reports on a timely basis. Look back at past budgets that are available on the County's website, there were well formatted budgets that have the information that many of us, yourselves included, seek. FY 2014-2015, we even won an award of recognition for a good budget presentation. Then a year later, the formatting changed. I suggest we go back to the old format and make reports available on a monthly basis. I also suggest County board and staff connect with the Government Finance Officers Association who recognized our budget presentation in the past. If we are not a member currently, I suggest we become one. The rates seem very reasonable considering the resources they have available.
I also want to be on record saying I do not support consolidating another function, department, or office under the CEO's office. I understand it is the CEO's purview to manage the county departments on a day to day basis carrying out their work and Board policy but I believe the Board and CEO should work together to set goals, policy and expectations on each of the departments. I have heard it argued that some of these functions, such as treasurer tax collector or auditor controller, should not be elected positions as there is no requirement that an elected official be qualified for the position they are running for, they only need be elected. Then if they aren't qualified, the BOS and county citizens have no recourse to replace that person until they are up for reelection. I would like to point out that the same can be said for a supervisor, that there is no requirement to be financially literate. If they aren't, how can thy adequately evaluate if someone is qualified, whether they are elected or hired by the board?
It concerns me that the voters are losing power by not being able to choose who runs some of our county offices. It seems like it is being suggested that We the People are not qualified to make the right choice. It's a circumvention of the democratic process, it takes away our rights and stifles our voice. It is unAmerican.
On behalf of Coast Democratic Club Leadership Team, I am writing in support for this item. Best Practices for our County is what we expect. Based on the discussions concerning the County budget, it would be prudent to have a plan developed for the creation of a Department of Finance. Karen Bowers, Coast Club Chair. www.coastdemocraticclub.org
I want to mention that on the surface, this action seems like an attack on the Auditor Controller Treasurer Tax Collector's office. I recognize the importance of having good financial reports on a timely basis. Look back at past budgets that are available on the County's website, there were well formatted budgets that have the information that many of us, yourselves included, seek. FY 2014-2015, we even won an award of recognition for a good budget presentation. Then a year later, the formatting changed. I suggest we go back to the old format and make reports available on a monthly basis. I also suggest County board and staff connect with the Government Finance Officers Association who recognized our budget presentation in the past. If we are not a member currently, I suggest we become one. The rates seem very reasonable considering the resources they have available.
I also want to be on record saying I do not support consolidating another function, department, or office under the CEO's office. I understand it is the CEO's purview to manage the county departments on a day to day basis carrying out their work and Board policy but I believe the Board and CEO should work together to set goals, policy and expectations on each of the departments. I have heard it argued that some of these functions, such as treasurer tax collector or auditor controller, should not be elected positions as there is no requirement that an elected official be qualified for the position they are running for, they only need be elected. Then if they aren't qualified, the BOS and county citizens have no recourse to replace that person until they are up for reelection. I would like to point out that the same can be said for a supervisor, that there is no requirement to be financially literate. If they aren't, how can thy adequately evaluate if someone is qualified, whether they are elected or hired by the board?
It concerns me that the voters are losing power by not being able to choose who runs some of our county offices. It seems like it is being suggested that We the People are not qualified to make the right choice. It's a circumvention of the democratic process, it takes away our rights and stifles our voice. It is unAmerican.