In Your Corner Dec 30^th

Approaching the New Year it is usually appropriate to review one’s performance during the past year and make some resolutions that will lead to a more successful future.

We would like to offer local representatives and bureaucrats our suggestions for their 2007 resolutions.  If followed, we believe these will make their efforts at governance much more successful in the coming years.  They will also help your Taxpayers’ Association keep our number one New Year’s resolution: to be more proactive on issues, so we will not have to spend so much of our time being critical.

Lets begin with a quote from a retiring Congressman who said “we need to think to the next generation, not the next election”.  Good advice; and the only way government can be returned to the people.  Lets hope our local government takes heed.

For all local “tax-spenders”, especially the Martin County and City of Stuart Commissions:

-         Hire professional negotiators to handle all union and employee contracts.  This is one of the few areas where we would like to see more time and money spent on outside consultants and private firms.  Taxpayers cannot afford the largess given out in recent years by our politicians and bureaucrats

-         Severely restrict the use of Consultants and part time employees. 

We would consider a 50% reduction for 2007 a good start.  It appears to us that many consultants are only there to provide political cover and part timers to avoid employee caps.

-         Institute consistent formats and easy access to budgets and other financial/statistical data.

It is currently very difficult to track expenditures and evaluate the result of decisions over time with constantly changing budget formats. 

-         Give administrators and managers goals and objectives that involve reducing costs.

Make reducing operation and maintenance costs a major factor in employee evaluations.  Have all administrators and managers provide a draft plan for a 10% staff reduction over time by instituting a hiring freeze for every department funded by taxes.  Require a bottom-up evaluation and written justification to deviate from the plan once approved. 

-         Institute a suggestion program that rewards cost saving proposals.

A program that returns a percentage of money saved could get lower echelon personnel invested in efforts to cut costs. Reward initiative and penalize sloth.

-         When hiring (or recruiting volunteer) professionals to research a subject and make recommendations, try very hard to listen to their council. 

A side effect of the unfettered Internet is that there are many opinions readily available on virtually any subject.  Embracing a concept, buying matching tee shirts and lobbying meetings does not make anyone an expert.

-         Reduce the length of and return civility to public meetings.            

                 Every issue is not critical and staff time spent in meetings is expensive.  Make a good decision and knock off the political speeches explaining your vote.  Pre-set discussion time and eliminate the political posturing

For the School Board and Superintendent:

-         Redouble your efforts to reduce the requirement for, and the cost of, new school facilities.

Adding classrooms to existing schools with excess core facilities appears to be a good start.  Continue the effort and appoint a committee of volunteer experts from the building and real estate trades to suggest ways to reduce school construction costs.

-         Plan for anticipated future growth.

We know Martin County will grow.  Get out front of this growth and secure needed school sites now.

-         Embrace the Concept of Rewarding Performance.

While no evaluation system is perfect, rewarding excellence is the most time-tested way to achieve an objective in any field of endeavor.   Any system that rewards equally regardless of effort/success will eventually institutionalize mediocrity.

-         Open your meetings to television on Martin County’s channel 20.

Your operations spend a very large percentage of the taxpayers’ money and the decision process behind it deserves the public’s attention.

For the Sheriff:

-         Look for ways to reduce the costs of jail operations:

Is it cost effective to contract with private sources for food service?  Could a private contractor operate the jail at less cost, reducing the drain on public financial resources now, and in the future? 

-         Work with the County and City to better coordinate the timing of traffic

      signals.

Too many signals snarl traffic and increase frustrations, begging drivers to run red lights.  Use traffic officers to direct traffic during rush hour, reducing wasted fuel use and increasing time available to our citizens.

For all governmental entities:

When undertaking a capital improvement project, create a realistic budget.  Report budgeted amounts as well as actual costs.  Maintain the original budget and account for cost over runs.  The current practice of simply creating a new budget to absorb cost increases is farcical while escalating the potential for tax funding abuse.   

For All: Have a healthy, happy and productive 2007