I attended the budget strategy planning portion of the county commissioner briefings. In a nutshell here's what they discussed.
1. The 2011 budget target for Current Expense or the General Fund will not be greater than 2010 funded level of $23.4 million.
2. Lynda wants to divide up the CE or GF into two budgets: regional services versus local services. More on this I'm sure as it wasn't really discussed yesterday just mentioned in passing.
3. Lynda wants develop the 2011 budget using a zero based budgeting approach. Not sure her fellow board members gave an informed level of support to ZBB. In other words - not sure they really understood. I do think the department heads and elected officials got what this would mean to them- ZBB could be translated by them as the ultimate in micro management.
We might want to check with former President Jimmy Carter on what he thinks of this approach to budget development. Just a thought. Whatever, I only hope the county comes up with a standard format prior to launching into this drill. If they don't have a procedure prior to taking off down the ZBB trail, all I can say is ---oh my gosh, they'll be wishing they had.
4. Ross wanted to hire a facilitator to help with the budget workshops for the public. Lynda and Tim both agreed that was his job as chair of the board.
5. Tim pushed for a cushion in 2011 budget to take care of union contract increases.
That's when I remembered how many members of the League of Women Voters last fall made that same request during the 2010 budget development process. For just about a year now, the League members have spearheaded the notion that the county didn't have union contract increases among other liabilities funded in the 2010 budget. What would you expect from the League's suffragette tradition? Susan B Anthony and her friends taught us that we don't need to be liked - we just need to work hard to make this country better for everyone. That same spirit lives on in Mason County.
Come to the League of Women Voters public forum on the county budget tonight at PUD3 auditorium at 7 pm. Hope to see you there.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
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It is starting to look like Lynda and Tim can smell the blood in the water too and are happy to throw Ross to the sharks - sacrifice Ross, maybe it will save their jobs? With friends like them the next County Commissioner (Brenda Hirschi) should not turn her back on these charming folks!
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