11/26/2007: "Apology"

I blame myself. But I can’t take the entire responsibility. We can all shoulder the blame for allowing our government to get too big. I apologize for my part in this but no matter whose fault it is we will all pay dearly for our apathy.

In the big race to spend tax money we are way out in front. If you add up all of our taxes the people of San Juan County pay the highest per capita rate in Washington by almost 2 to 1 over second place King County. I realize that there are extenuating circumstances and excuses for our “uniqueness”. Per capita rates don’t always tell the whole story. However they do provide a good comparison. The bottom line is we should not be busting our buttons with pride for winning the state-spending derby.

I usually attend at least one budget hearing at the end of each year. It is interesting to note that not one of these hearings has ever started out with the idea of cutting the budget. Department heads, non-profit groups, committees, and others stand up one after another and give the Council their wish list. Council members must feel as giddy as game show hosts. It can be a lot of fun giving away cash and prizes especially if it’s not your own money.

I seem to be one of the lonesome voices for fiscal restraint. How quaint and curious my presence must seem. I am like a salmon swimming against the swift flowing stream of cash and like a salmon I will probably die trying to reverse the flow.

At last years hearing I questioned the costs of implementing the Charter. I was opposed to the idea of hiring an “Information Specialist” charged with painting a smiley face on County Government. My concerns fell on deaf ears. We now have a highly paid “Communications” staff cranking out press releases like the old Soviet Union equivalent of Pravda.

At this years first budget hearing I reminded the Council that one reason to have an Administrator was to find efficiencies in government. This caused several official’s faces to twist up in painful consternation. My mild but earnest rebuke is mentioned in the 2008 budget narrative. However, my concern was quickly dismissed with this quote from Mr. Rose, our Administrator.

“We need to worry less about finding efficiencies than finding effectiveness. Focus on the value. We get the government we pay for, and government on the cheap may not be worth paying for.”

Now wait just a dang minute! How can outspending every other county per capita in the State be called government on the cheap? Good grief! If our government was humming along at 100% peak efficiency why did the people think we needed an Administrator in the first place?

I guess effectiveness requires us to hire a new “Affordable Housing Coordinator” next year. I remember just last May voters soundly rejected funding for a similar proposal. It was not popular. I requested a job description for this position only to find out that one does not exist. The money exists even if we don’t know what this person is supposed to do. We don’t want to have government “on the cheap” so for the sake of effectiveness we must hire someone to spend it on. After all it’s not our money. How’s that for efficiency?

Government continues to grow. I sincerely apologize that I have not been able to make a difference by myself.