Vol. 32 No. 4 APRIL 2003
HIGHLIGHTS
OF THIS ISSUE
FROM PRESIDENT BROOKER
Page 2
MILT MARKUSON HONORED
Page 3
GRANTS FOR FIREFIGHTING
Page 4
DROUGHT DESIGNATIONS
Page 5
WORKSTATION SUGGESTIONS
Page 6
COUNTY NEWS
Page 7
WEST NILE VIRUS
Page 8
NACo COMMITTEE REPORTS
Page 9
COUNTY DECISIONS
IN TOUGH ECONOMY
Page 10
MACo’s COMMITTEE MEMBERS
100% of Montana’s NACo
Steering Committee members attended the NACo Legislative Conference in
Washington D.C.. In addition to their
individual committee and subcommittee meetings, they attended general sessions
featuring a variety of speakers and visited with Montana’s Congressmen.
MACo attendees
Carol Brooker, Sanders County Bill Kennedy, Yellowstone County
NACo Board of Directors Chair,
Health Steering Committee
Labor and Employment Committee
Connie Eissinger, McCone County Gary Fjelstad, Rosebud County
WIR Board of Directors Justice
and Public Safety Committee
Public Lands Committee
Kathy Bessette, Hill County Allan Underdal, Toole County
Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee Finance and
Intergovernmental Affairs
Anita Varone, Lewis & Clark County Vernon Petersen, Fergus County
Community and Economic Development Transportation Committee
John Prinkki, Carbon County Alan Thompson, Ravalli County
Environment, Energy, and Land Use Representing
Montana Forest Counties
Public
Lands Committee
President Brooker Writes
Our Montana news media is
filled with reports and predictions of State budget revenue shortfall and the
dire consequences to legislatively mandated programs. Great attention and
coverage is given to State problems but we rarely hear anything as to the
difficulties counties in Montana are experiencing.
I grew curious as to whether counties in other states are
feeling the same pinch and problems. A study by the Carl Vance Institute of
Government, in association with the National Association of Counties (NACo),
reported that:
» Nearly 72% of counties are facing revenue shortfalls.
» 25% of counties plan to decrease public health services.
» 56% of counties are facing reductions in state
funding for state mandated programs.
» 37% of counties facing state reductions will reduce
services and 17% of counties
will increase taxes.
(Eleven Montana counties
responded to the survey requests).
Nationally, the demand for county-provided services rises
while revenue to provide these services falls. These issues are nothing new to
Montana counties. It is my opinion, that we are lacking media coverage of the
dilemma and, consequently, the public’s awareness of the impact the State is
having on essential services to Montanans.
Is this lack of coverage a result of our unwillingness to
complain or even whine a little when it hurts? Do we need a concerted
information campaign on a statewide level or do we need to complain so that the
local media understands our problem? I would like to hear any proposals that
you might have to let our constituents know what is happening and how it will
impact them.
I need your help and direction.
The Concentrated Employment Program (CEP) Council of
Commissioners elected Mike Kahoe, Administrative Assistant to the Granite
County Commission, as Chair. Kahoe has
served as Chair of the Council since its inception under the Workforce Investment
Act and with the Job Training Partnership Act before that. Tim Clark, Butte-Silver Bow County, was
re-elected as Vice-Chair.
The CEP Council represents Anaconda-Deer Lodge, Beaverhead,
Broadwater, Butte-Silver Bow, Granite, Jefferson, Lewis & Clark, Madison,
Meagher, and Powell Counties. The
Council appoints members to the CEP Workforce Investment Board (WIB). The CEP WIB establishes policy and allocates
funding for workforce development programs in the CEP Area.
M.M.H.A HONORS MARKUSON
The Montana Mental Health
Association (MMHA) named Carter County Commissioner Milton Markuson as the 2002
Outstanding Board Member. At the
Legislative Banquet and Awards Dinner, Markuson was cited for his service on the
Eastern Montana Community Mental Health Center since 1988. He is a past Chair and was instrumental in
the construction of the building on Holy Rosary Campus. “Milt is a prime example of what a volunteer
not-for-profit board member should be:
he cares and works hard,” said Frank Lane, Executive Director of the
Center.
COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT
FOR
COUNTY OFFICIALS SALARIES
FY 2003-2004
1.6%
IN MEMORIAM
McCONE COUNTY CLERK & RECORDER
LEANNE SWITZER
Leanne Switzer, 38, was elected as McCone County Clerk
& Recorder in 1990 and served three terms, having just been re-elected this
last November for her fourth term. Leanne was a true professional and loved her
co-workers and public career.
She married her best friend and neighbor, Jerry Switzer, in
1984. They have two children, Shayna
Kay, 10 years old, and Ryan Andrew, 7 years old.
Funeral services were held on Monday, March 3.
FORMER
DAWSON COUNTY COMMISSIONER
ALVIN MATHISON
Alvin
Mathison, 83, served in the European theater during World War II and returned
to Glendive where he operated Al’s Barber Shop until he retired. Following his retirement, Alvin served as
Dawson County Commissioner from 1973-1984.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Bertha on October 12,
2002, and three brothers. His surviving
family includes two sons, a daughter, two brothers, a sister and six
grandchildren.
Funeral services were held March 8.
FIRE PROTECTION MONEY AVAILABLE
The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
(DNRC) announced that applications for the 2003 VFA/RFA Grant Program are now
being accepted.
Applications for matching funds
are due April 25, 2003. Single
applications representing countywide fire organizations are required. Eligible applicants to be included are: fire
departments, rural fire districts, fire service areas, volunteer fire companies
or other fire service organizations in communities with populations of 10,000
or less.
The maximum grant amount for a
single applicant is $20,000. The
single applications for a group of communities, i.e., countywide fire councils,
countywide fire departments, etc., may have a total population of over
10,000. Applications can be submitted
for projects such as department or district organization and planning, fire
prevention, fire training and fire equipment.
(Construction or improvement of fire stations, normal operational
expenses and maintenance do not qualify for VFA/RFA funds.)
In 2002, this grant program
received applications from every county in the state, requesting $2.6 million
dollars in funding. Sixty-nine grants
were awarded, totaling the $1.2 million received from the Forest Service and
Interior agencies.
Details are available by contacting your
local DNRC office, by calling (406) 542-4228, or on the Internet at: www.dnrc.state.mt.us/forestry/dnrcfiresite/volfire.htm
United States Fire
Administration
Announces 2003 Grants
The Unites States
Fire Administration has announced the 2003 Assistance to Firefighters
Grants. All fire departments,
throughout the United States, are invited to apply. E-Applications, as well as
the 2003 Program Guide can be found at:
http://www.usfa.fema.gov.
In addition, a telephone help line has been opened at
866-274-0960.
This phone number is for fire
service personnel needing answers to questions not found in the
guidelines.
If you would prefer to email your questions, that address
is:
usfagrants@fema.gov.
The grant application
period ends at 5:00 pm on April 11, 2003.
The Assistance for Firefighters Grant
Program assists rural, urban and suburban fire departments throughout the
United States. All current 2003
Assistance to Firefighter
The USFA is a part
of FEMA, and both are a part of the Department of Homeland Security.
INVESTMENTS:
STATEMENT SHOCK
For these past two
years, our investment statements show negative returns, courtesy of losses in
the stock markets. In addition, media
reports about recent political and financial uncertainty are near-daily events. Times of uncertainty may not be the best for
making major decisions, but if we allow the emotionalism of negative media
reports to push away the logic and strategy of long-term planning, we can make
poor investment decisions.
That said, now may be a good time to review your
investment strategy. Set your asset
allocation policy first, and then stay the course with an appropriate mix of
stocks, bonds and cash for your risk tolerance and investment time horizon. Investing
is a long-term proposition. Don’t let
your emotions overpower your sense of reason.
Do reassure yourself that you’re on track with your investment
strategies for asset allocation and diversification.
Nationwide Retirement Solutions provide online workshops
where you can learn about the Morningstar ClearFuture investment guidance tools
to help:
1) overcome “investment
statement shock” as you learn about what’s going on in the markets and
2) ensure your assets are invested according to your tolerance for
risk and your plans.
It’s quick. It’s
easy. And it’s online right now at
www.NRSeducation.com
REQUEST
TO CONTINUE
DROUGHT DESIGNATION
On January 24, 2003, Governor Judy Martz requested a
Natural Disaster Determination (NDD) for all 56 counties in Montana as a
continuation of the 2002 designation. Counties
do not need to send letters requesting inclusion in the determination.
The NDD has nothing to do with the "Emergency Conservation Program"
or the "CRP Haying and Grazing" programs. These two are entirely separate from NDD and handled directly
through the Farm Service Agency Service Centers.
Farm Service Agency will be working to
identify the counties that qualify for the NDD. This will not occur until after crop yields have been
determined. Notification of the NDD,
after the crop yields are in, is perfect timing because the loan program only
stays open for an eight- month window.
Most producers do their operational financing between November and March
of the coming year. The early
determinations in the past have caused the loan program to sunset in November
and some producers have missed the opportunity to access the assistance.
OOOPS! - - Recall that email!
Have you ever accidentally sent an e-mail you wish you could
un-send? If you use Microsoft Outlook
and the recipient also uses Outlook, you can recall the message—if you do the
following before the person has opened it:
* Open the “Sent Items”
folder
* Double click and open
the message you want to recall
* On the “Actions” menu,
click “Recall this message”
* To recall the message,
highlight and click
“Delete Unread Copies of the Message” OR
To replace
the message with another one, click “Delete Unread Copies and
Replace
with a New Message”
* To find out if you were successful, select “Tell Me if Recall Succeeds or Fails for Each Recipient”
* Click OK to receive
results
GRANTS AND LOANS
MONTANA AERONAUTICS DIVISION
FISCAL YEAR 2004
AIRPORT GRANT LOAN
Fallon County & Baker $6,000
Sweet Grass & Big Timber $46,103
Powder River at Broadus $66,484 $33,516
Teton County & Choteau $10,600 $5,000
Glacier County & Cut Bank $7,500
Lincoln County at Eureka $23,000
Park County at Gardiner $5,166
Valley County & Glasgow $40,000 $40,000
Dawson County at Glendive $36,000
Blaine County & Harlem $50,000
Blaine County at Hogeland $10,000
Garfield County at Jordan $60,000 $60,000
Poplar & Fort Peck Reservation $11,862 $11,862
Carbon County & Red Lodge $10,000
Musselshell County & Roundup $17,424 $17,424
Daniels County & Scobey $7,511 $7,511
Richland Co.-Sidney Authority $47,960 $63,210
St. Ignatius $7,000
Stevensville $23,000
TOTALS $434,341 $289,792
FY ‘03 Extensions
Ravalli County at Hamilton $75,000 $108,874
Granite County at Philipsburg $50,000 $60,000
Sanders County at Plains $7,968
Richland Co.-Sidney Authority $46,000 $15,500
AIRPORT GRANT
EXTENSION
Billings $10,500 $7,200
Gallatin County Authority $10,500 $12,500
Bert Mooney Authority (Butte) $10,500
Great Falls Authority $10,500
Lewis & Clark County Authority $10,500 $12,500
Flathead Municipal Authority $10,500
Missoula County Authority $10,500
Totals $73,500
The
St. Ignatius Airport in Lake County has been named the
“Airport
of the Year” by Montana Aeronautics Division.
WORKSTATION SOLUTIONS
By
Emelia McEwen, MACo Assistant Risk Manager
How can employees be sure
they are implementing the right solution the first time?
“A simple, systematic process can be used to find the best
solution for addressing stressors found in the office work station,” said David
Brodie, Director of Training and Education at Ergonomics Center of North
Carolina. Brodie outlines two areas
where employers can cut costs and obtain the correct safety solution the first
time around.
Adjust furniture and layout
Too many offices buy new expensive ergonomic equipment and
furniture before assessing what they already have. One of the simplest solutions is to make adjustments to existing
office furniture and workplace layout.
Many individuals are using equipment that can fit them, but it seems
uncomfortable due to poor adjustments or setup.
Assess the workplace by measuring chair and work surface
heights.
1) Height of the chair should be such that the thighs are
parallel to the floor while the feet are flat on the floor. There should be about three-fingers width
between the end of the seat pan and the back of the worker’s leg. Armrests should be adjusted to slightly
below the height of the elbow while working.
Lumbar support should be approximately at belt-loop height.
2) The keyboard should be at a height so that the
worker’s elbows are bent at 90 degrees.
The tray should be angled so that the worker’s wrists are straight when
hands are on the keyboard.
If adjusting the current
setup does not provide a complete fix, the next option is to purchase
equipment.
Purchase needed items
The acquisition of furniture and equipment in the office
environment is a very important decision from both an economic and ergonomic
point of view. If the correct choice is
made, then a valuable addition has been made to the office. Brodie offered the following tips for
purchasing equipment:
1) Reduce the
options.
Even if only
one supplier is used, there still may be a large number of options. A good rule of thumb to apply here is
quality vs quantity.
2. Try before
you buy.
An equipment evaluation should assess adjustability,
design, task and aesthetics. Whenever
possible, evaluate a piece of furniture in the office setting before it
is purchased. Regardless of how the
best possible options are determined, the final decision on usability depends
on the employee. Does the piece fit the
person and/or the office space? Has the
piece accommodated the needs of the employee?
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
MOTEL ROOMS IN
DEMAND
MAKE RESERVATIONS NOW
MACo Annual Conference, scheduled for September 21-24 in
Lewistown, is at the same time as pheasant hunting season. Motels are willing to set aside only a
limited number of rooms in each complex for MACo guests.
However, if we make reservations early and the motels
realize we need more rooms, they will open more rooms to accommodate MACo
delegates.
Please make your reservations as soon as possible. Be sure to ask for rooms set aside for
MACo. The motels which currently have
MACo rooms set aside are:
Yogo Inn (conference center)
538-8721 (refer to MACo Room Block / Group 657)
State summer rate $55 + tax
Mountain View
538-3457 (Ilene)
Continental breakfast
Single $32.25 Double $42.65
Super 8
538-3581 (Annette)
State summer rate $55 + tax
B & B Motel
538-5496
Single $45 Double $50
Sunset Motel
538-8741 (Candy)
Single $34.32 Double $43.68
Trails End Motel
538-5468 (Julie)
Single $38 Double $43
No MACo set-aside
Willow Tree Bed & Breakfast
538-8844 Double $75
COUNTY NEWS
BLM
RESOURCE ADVISORY COUNCILS SEEK NOMINATIONS
Nominations
for Category 3 (elected state, county or local government) should include a
background information form (including Category) and letter of reference. The nominations are to be submitted to the
appropriate BLM field manager by April 21. The three-year terms will begin September 21.
Western Montana: One opening
Rick
Hotaling
BLM
Field Manager
106
N. Parkmont
Butte,
MT 59701
406-533-7600
Central Montana: One opening
Dave
Mari
BLM
Field Manager
Airport
Road
Lewistown,
MT 59457
406-538-7461
Eastern Montana: One full opening plus one opening for the
remainder of a term (one year) due to resignation of a member
Dave
McIlnay
BLM
Field Manager
111
Garryowen Road
Miles
City, MT 59301
406-233-2800
EDUCATION
VALLEY COUNTY Commission is in
the exploratory stage of organizing a community college using Fort Peck
Community College as the parent organization, with a separate board for the new
site. The college would be linked to
MSU Northern or Rocky Mountain College
INVESTMENTS
LINCOLN COUNTY moved more of its
investments from the State Investment Pool (STIP) to a private investment
group, hoping to better the rate of return.
WEED
CONTROL
BROADWATER COUNTY held
a mail vote in March for weed control tax levy.
TRUANCY
ORDINANCE
ANACONDA-DEER LODGE COUNTY
is considering a truancy ordinance to set a misdemeanor offense for parents
whose children in grades one through
eight routinely miss school.
LAWSUITS
YELLOWSTONE COUNTY
hopes to join in a lawsuit seeking to overturn an annexation by the City of
Billings, in order to protect its interest in a county sewer system which
serves the annexed subdivision.
LINCOLN COUNTY had hoped the
lawsuit against the Kootenai National Forest would be dropped after several
public meetings. However, the Ecology
Center and the Lands Council of Spokane plan to continue the suit, which
threatens timber sales.
GALLATIN COUNTY is taking two
steps to avoid an ACLU jail lawsuit.
One step is to upgrade the current jail. The other step is to use a new federal grant to construct a
low-security building to house non-violent criminals. At issue is source of funding for annual maintenance costs.
YELLOWSTONE COUNTY
filed suit against the Billing Gazette in response to the newspaper’s request
for public records for three people involved with the public defender
position. The county asks a judge to
determine right-to-privacy and which records can be released to the public.
ROOSEVELT COUNTY may join other
Montana libraries in a small claims litigation to retrieve $2,500 in
subscription renewals paid in advance to a company which later filed
bankruptcy.
HEALTH
CARE
RAVALLI COUNTY agreed to budget
an annual amount for three years, as part of a federal grant application to
open a community health clinic.
TETON COUNTY appointed six residents
to review options for increasing revenue and residents at the County Nursing
Home.
RESIGNATION
BEAVERHEAD COUNTY Coroner
Kenneth Brunkhorst resigned because the State ordered an autopsy for an infant,
overriding the work he had done. “I can
not in good conscience hold this office and execute orders within a system that
so violates the freedoms I hold sacred,” he wrote, after explaining he had
given the family the choice of the autopsy or not.
BACKGROUND
CHECKS
HILL COUNTY will begin doing
background checks on applicants for positions that require working with money.
Currently the Sheriff’s office is the only county office which conducts
background checks. The County does
require drug tests for all potential employees.
VOUNTEERS
DAWSON COUNTY recognized value
of volunteers on county appointed boards—143 volunteers on the various boards,
donating 2 hours a month, equated to 3,432 hours of volunteer labor on behalf
of the county each year. If an average
wage for public service were $10 / hr., this would equate to $34, 320 worth of
donated time.
FACILITIES
CASCADE COUNTY, faced with nearly
$1 million in repairs to the ice rink in Four Seasons Arena, received pleas
from famed skaters who began careers there.
RICHLAND COUNTY explained that
there was no tax increase to pay for the new building at the Fairgrounds
because capital improvement funds were used.
BEAVERHEAD COUNTY is considering
the purchase and relocation of a National Guard Armory when the Guard moves to
a new building.
PUBLIC
RECORD PROTECTION
YELLOWSTONE COUNTY
has removed from the county’s website any data that could enable identity
theft, such as social security numbers, signatures, owner information on real
estate records, etc.
MOSQUITO CONTROL
AND
WEST NILE VIRUS
While horse owners and birders may be at increased
susceptibility to West Nile Virus (WNV), it is the human disease that will
generate the most public alarm. In
2002, lllinois had 873 cases and 60 deaths; Michigan had 554 cases and 50
deaths; Ohio had 444 cases and 31 deaths; Louisiana had 330 cases and 24
deaths. Most human disease is a
flu-like illness, but there are instances of encephalitis (brain inflammation),
especially among the elderly, and deaths.
We should anticipate diagnosis of human cases this spring and we can
also expect demands on public officials to do something.
Public health can provide information about personal
protection (i.e., use of clothing, insecticides and avoidance) and habitat
control to prevent mosquito bites. A
challenging pressure on local governmental entities will be requests for mosquito
abatement. In jurisdictions with mosquito
districts, this issue is easier to address.
Lacking a mosquito district, local governments need to consider
storm-water drainage, roadside habitats, private property owners who are
non-compliant about habitat control, and possible referrals to private pest
control operators.
The goal of the response should be to control the spread of
the virus. Mosquitoes, including at
least nine species identified in the Northwest, spread it. Birds are “definitive hosts.” This means that when a carrier mosquito
bites a bird (the crow family seems most susceptible), the bird becomes
infected. When a mosquito bites an
infected bird, it takes in WNV-laden blood and can then spread the virus when
it bites another bird or some mammals.
We humans and horses are called “accidental” or “dead-end hosts.” That means that we don’t contribute to the
life cycle of the virus. Carrier
mosquitoes can infect humans and horses but the mosquitoes cannot pick up the
virus from us.
Things to consider for a WNV response plan include:
clarification of roles and responsibilities (this problem touches many
agencies), surveillance, mosquito control (personal protection, habitat
control), and public information.
MONTANA
TRANSPORTATION PARTNERSHIPS
Montana Transportation Partnerships is a coalition of
transportation service providers, transportation associations, persons with
disabilities, seniors, transportation-disadvantaged, and state human service
agency representatives. Montana Transportation Partnerships has been
working toward statewide transportation systems since 1999. The mission of the Partnership is: To ensure Montanans, in their
community of choice, have accessible, safe, affordable, and reliable
transportation services through the development of coordinated systems.
In Montana, transportation continues to be cited as a
primary obstacle to independence.
Current information gathered through public forums, surveys and needs
assessments from case managers and family members consistently rate
transportation as one of the top three barriers to independence and
employment.
The Partnership has taken an active role in using and
coordinating transportation resources on the local levels. As part of this process, grants have been
received from five different national agencies to develop coordinated
transportation systems using technology, technical assistance, planning, and
advocacy resources.
· Provided funding to develop and disseminate a
Coordination Toolkit, a step-by-step guide for local transit providers to begin
coordinating current resources in their communities
· Recommended that Montana Department of Transportation
include representation of persons with disabilities and seniors on
transportation committees or councils
· Met with representatives from Florida, Oregon, and
Virginia, who came to Montana to provide information and technical assistance
on statewide coordination efforts
· Subcontracted a site for national demonstration of a
voucher model for rural transportation to the Salish Kootenai 121 Project.
· Awarded grants to plan and support coordinated
transportation models to be replicated statewide.
NACo Public Lands
Steering Committee
Synopsis of Report
by Connie Eissinger, McCone County
Endangered Species Act
Reform
Nancy Macan McNally, Executive Director of National
Endangered Species Act Coalition, advised counties involved in land use
planning not to use critical habitat language or plan for single species, but
rather to plan for multiple species and a mosaic pattern of habitat management.
President’s Healthy
Forests Initiative
Mark Rey, Undersecretary for Natural Resources and
Environment, noted that: 1. An experimental effort has been made to treat ten
of the most affected forest areas. 2.
Permit authority must be granted to forests at the local level to permit fuels
reduction contracts. The Administration
plans to allow the Forest Service to use analyses of similar projects instead
of developing analyses specific to each project and to allow streamlined environmental
assessments. They hope to hear appeals
only if the appealing entity has participated in the entire EIS process.
Department of Interior
Initiatives
J. O. Ratliff, Assistant to Secretary for Land & Minerals
Management, emphasized sustainable, working land which produces food, fiber and
recreation for the nation. The
Administration hopes to remove invasive species, to reduce hazardous fuels, to
develop natural gas use and to provide access to resources on public
lands.
American Lands Alliance, Forest Guardians and a biodiversity
group in Idaho initiated litigation to raise livestock grazing fees because
“ranchers encourage ecological damage to national forests.” Ratliff advised
using the postage-paid envelopes from these groups asking for donations to mail
back 3-pound lead weights.
National Forest Counties
Restoration Program
Michael Nimison, Otero County, New Mexico, said the
program’s objective is to develop a skeleton plan for each state to adapt for
its own use. Counties must take the
lead in restoration because land cannot wait for laws to be changed.
Steve Campbell, Arizona Cooperative Extension Service,
commented that the catastrophic fires and insect infestations are nature’s way
of cleaning up hazards from overgrowth.
NACo Transportation Committee
Synopsis of Report
by Vern Petersen,
Fergus County
I chaired the
Highway-Mass Transit subcommittee meeting in the absence of the Chair. We heard an update from Glen Whitly on the TEA
21 renewal efforts. Glen has testified
a couple of times, keeping emphasis on full funding, rural input in planning
process, and continued funding for mass transit.
We had a
lengthy discussion on a resolution to raise the user fee on fuel. We ended up recommending the
resolution.
Saturday, when
we met as the full Transportation Steering Committee, we heard a report from
Jennifer Dorn, Administrator of the Federal Transit Authority. She talked almost entirely on funding. They want to put $1.5 billion in new starts
and $145 million to mitigate handicap barriers to mass transit.
We also heard
a very upbeat report from Amtrak’s new hired gun—David Gunn, that is. He is getting Amtrak out of the freight
business where they have lost millions of dollars. He says Amtrak, as we know it, is here to stay (with subsidies),
but new routes are very doubtful.
We adopted the
resolution in support of raising the federal fuel tax and the one to
reauthorize Air 2. We tabled one that
would have expanded the eligibility for CMAQ funds to other counties. The rationale was there isn’t enough money
now to get all communities into compliance and this would just divide the same
pie more times.
If you’re
planning a trip overseas, Washington DC is a perfect place to practice being
where you don’t speak the language. Most taxi drivers are from Pakistan and
don’t speak English. So you won’t know
the fare or how much of Delaware and Virginia and Ohio you should see on your
way to your hotel with the meter running!
In some of the hotels, some of the desk clerks attempt to speak English
with very little luck. None of the room
service people speak English and in some restaurants you just point at the
menu, the waiter takes the menu to the cook and points, and the cook sends back
whatever he thinks it might be.
Then there’s
the deal with me and Mickey—but you don’t wanna know.
Some counties across the
nation are already feeling real effects from state budget shortfalls and are
anticipating drastic measures such as eliminating health insurance for county
employees, introducing new taxes and laying off staff.
Marion County, Illinois, is a worst-case scenario. Facing a $1.2 million budget deficit, the
county became the first county in Illinois to end health insurance benefits for
its 130 employees. Officials said
rising insurance costs and rising payments for housing prisoners outside the
county were the causes of the axed insurance benefits. County employees have also being laid
off. The Law Enforcement budget will
need about $1 million more in the next budget year than it did four years
ago. So, the County is considering a
local sales tax on selected items such as restaurant food and clothing for a
“public safety” tax.
Hennepin County, Minnesota, was hit hard by the downturns in
the travel industry and is hoping county staff levels will decrease by
attrition. Their one economic bright
spot for the county is a recent increase in employment training programs. However, with the layoffs from the travel
industry, employment for laid-off county workers will be difficult.
In California, cuts in state funding to counties include the
proposal to end paying counties for revenues lost by reduction of
vehicle-license fees. Counties are
considering layoffs, salary cuts and longer waits for county services such as
public assistance or public health.
Some county officials are anticipating the early release of some
prisoners, closing parks and libraries.
Meanwhile, other counties are working on economic
development projects to restore decreased county funds in the future.
Pennsylvania may provide one of the best examples of
successful use of enterprise zones. As a direct result of the Pennsylvania
Keystone Opportunity Zones (KOZs), more than 10,000 jobs have been created
since the program was introduced in 1999. It’s a state and county program that
offers tax incentives, often eliminating state and local taxes, for relocation
of businesses to “poor” areas. “It’s
pretty gutsy – wiping out a huge chunk of the tax base for a while. It is a
little bit of a balancing act – spending money to make money,” said Douglas
Hill, Executive Director, County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania.
In Seneca County, New York, a sparsely populated region near
Finger Lakes, their economic development efforts began in 1993. The Seneca County Industrial Development
Agency (SCIDA) provides low-interest loans in combination with those offered by
the towns and the County. Mark Sawyer,
SCIDA Director, said, “Can you give everything away and pile that burden on
other citizens and residents in the county?
No, our county board tries to balance sales, property and income taxes
as one broad base.”
Moorhead, a town in Clay County, Minnesota, has 31,000
residents who make up more than half of the county population. Clay County Commissioner Jon Evert
explained, “Last year, we had an
investigative committee to get aggressive with economic development. We’re the
only county on the western edge of Minnesota that had any growth at all in the
’90s. Clay County is basically the
“twin city” of Fargo, North Dakota, which is booming in many ways. We have not had to do any layoffs, but we certainly
don’t know what will happen this coming year.” Waupaca
County, Wisconsin, has not only been layoff free, it’s actually increased its
number of jobs and seemingly has no worries about the potential of eliminated
funding from the state legislature. “We
have three communities, and an influx of small businesses that each have five,
six, 10 people working at them,” said Duane Brown, county board chairman.
“There are some jobs here. They’re not the highest paying, but you can find
them.” Brown went on to explain that
much of what keeps the local economy vital is the heavy corridor of traffic
that runs through the County with commuters headed to and from urban areas.
Selections from a two-part series
by Paul Mackie
NACo News, Volume 35, No. 3 and 4
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