11/22/2006: "Bogus! - Costs Attributed to Charter"

By Richard Fralick

An imperative of the 1st full County Council will be to implement the Charter consistent with the will of the people who voted it into place. The Freeholders intended charter government to be, at least, revenue neutral, and saw, in the long run, potential for major savings. Of course, they anticipated some one time costs. However, some of the costs recently attributed to Charter implementation are so preposterous that we are compelled to take exception.

Remember that the three incumbent Council Members opposed the Charter and have a vested interest to see that it is not successful. One way to do this is to make decisions that cause the cost of county government to go up and blame it on the Charter.

True, most obvious transition cost: Salaries paid to the new County Council. While the three newly elected and one re-elected council member will receive $32,000 appropriate to their half-time primarily legislative positions as determined by a Citizens' Salary Commission, our two incumbents will receive $70,000. That means Kevin Ranker and Alan Lichter together will receive nearly $95,000 annually more in salary and benefits than they otherwise would. While state law does not allow for an incumbent's salary to be reduced during his term of office, either or both could agree to reimburse the County the difference. Thus far, neither has indicated his willingness to do so. This $95,000 additional Charter expense will be borne by the County through 2008 until the two incumbents current terms expire.

Costs initiated by current County Council: Significant increases in wages and benefits for their staff. Their reasoning: twice as many council members. What they did not factor in: half as much work. An additional $23,000 in compensation and benefits will result from this decision. Though specifically prohibited by the Charter, the current Council continues to interfere with the administrative branch of the County. Such interference prevents realization of some of the efficiencies made possible by the Charter and has a cost.

Unfair Costs: On October 24, 2005, the former Board of County Commissioners unanimously agreed to hire and budget for a County Administrator and an Assistant. These costs are real but should not be attributed to the Charter since these positions were created prior to the charter's approval.

Bogus Costs: While some members of the current County Council have suggested and seem keen on attributing half the cost of acquiring the Carlson building and its remodel to the Charter, this is simply bogus. The need for additional space to accommodate congestion in the courthouse has been on the agenda for some time. The acquisition of the Carlson building meets this requirement and costs incurred in purchasing this building cannot be linked, within reason and honesty, to the passage of the charter. Nothing in the Charter compelled the purchase of this building and nothing in the Charter is forcing the Council to spend additional money to refurbish this building.

During the campaign to pass the Charter, Si Stephens, SJC Auditor since 1980, agreed and said on the record, "If properly implemented, the cost of charter government will be no more than the current structure." In September 2006, when asked the same question Si said his position was unchanged and added, "…in fact, the charter form of government should, in the long run, save the county money." We agree.

On November 28, 2006, we the people of San Juan County will, for the first time, be represented by a non-partisan council of six members as created by the Home Rule Charter. Henceforth, four affirmative votes will be required for the Council to pass any measure or ordinance. All the newly elected members of the Council, through their campaign discourse, have shown that they are well aware that when the citizens of San Juan County voted for the Charter, they were voting for more effective and cost-efficient government.

The full new Council is hereby challenged to sharpen their pencils, review policy, enact, and sometimes undo legislation to take full advantage of the efficiencies made possible by the charter structure. We look forward to a new era of careful deliberation, cooperation and results. The people of San Juan County should have the government they voted for at a fair price. We deserve no less.

(Richard Fralick lives on San Juan, is a former Freeholder and the current Chairman of Citizens for Charter Implementation)