"Our Charter is more specific regarding our role. Not only must we concentrate on our responsibilities as policy and lawmakers, but we are specifically charged with being budgetary watchdogs -- a check of -- and balance to -- the Executive branch of the County government. We will be able, as the definition says, to be more deliberative and thoughtful in our initiatives, proposed policy changes, system improvements and program development. No longer saddled with day to day oversight responsibilities, we should dedicate our time to delving deeper into the substantive background of the issues before us. We should be creative, innovative and now, to a new degree, objective."
So when does this start? When do they start to holding the County Executive's feet to the fire? What I have seen so far is a lack of transparency with Departments Heads not allowed to speak to the Press or Legislators until it is approved by the Executive. Department Heads not showing up to Committee meetings because then don't have the permission from the Executive to attend those meetings. The Executive was elected as stated above to run the day to day operation of the County, so lets have him focus on that. If he has time to play with seniors in the summer games that is a great feel good initiative. But let's have a well run government first.
What about a quarterly review of the budget? Where are we with sales tax revenue? How many hires have we had in the quarter? Are the departments on budget? Are there any outstanding court cases against the County and what is the exposure to the taxpayers? All questions that should be asked during a quarterly review. Ask our Comptroller to create a "Plain English" version of the budget. Remember my words, "The Taxpayers are not personal ATM machines".
We need a Fleet Manager that was debated for years, all we get now is a political appointee, what happened to hiring the best qualified person for the job? I must say the our Comptroller was heading in the right direction but he has definitely got stone walled.
The Legislators are the taxpayers only hope. Please start being fiscally responsible. Start to support our Comptroller, and work with him to audit departments for best practices and take effective measures to reduce costs. Start with departments like Social Service that represent 60%+ of our total county budget. Save some taxpayers money for heaven sakes.
As for stimulus money, before ONE DIME IS SPENT how about putting oversight in place and do the correct due diligence so we waste NO money.
We don't need task forces, what we need is need lower taxes, more jobs. Let's get this County moving in the right direction.
It is an Election year for the Legislators and the Independence party is looking forward to working with all of you, the word this year is "REFORM". I look forward to the comments we receive on this Blog.
Thank You,
Len
I will have more confidence in our Legistlature and the Comptroller when they pick a few fights with the County Executive. The way the Legistlature simply rubber stamped the new positions added by Mr. Hein to the County Executive's office as well as the salary increases was immensely disturbing.
ReplyDeleteTo allow Adele Reiter to continue to function as a year round camapaign manager under the title of Chief of Staff, a position not suggested in the County Charter, is an insult to the taxpayers. Yet the Legislature simply went along.
Speaking of checking that needs to be done when it comes to the money being spent. Have you heard about the renovations being done to accomadate the new staff of the county building.
ReplyDeleteEver since they decided to do the work in house the subject fell off of the radar as opposed to the $600 outcry initially. However the rumors are starting to fly about work being done and then ripped apart because someone did not like it, then the work was redone all at a cost to us.
Also I have heard some rumors about the amount of overtime involved on the part of the county employees doing the work. This overtime and its cost is then easily hidden within that department's budget. As opposed to being out in the open on bills submitted by contractors.
I would be VERY interested to hear the real final cost of renovations when they are complete.
Len,
ReplyDeleteIs it unrealistic to expect the Legislature to do anything right away? Maybe after Hein rubs their nose in it a few more times, they will bite back. But for now, it looks like Hein is on his honeymoon. After seeing how these people can eat their young when they are crossed, Hein had better watch out and keep them on his side. Sue Zimet and others are not real fond of him to start with.
" Its amazing what you can accomplish if you don't care who gets the credit" Harry Truman. Hein is so busy with self promotion he forgot about the job he has to do. Or he has an abundance of people to do the work for him. Is he not smart enough to do it himself so he just is on tour while the taxpayers foot the $100,00 bills for his staff people
ReplyDeleteHi Len, I'm waiting to see my post. Maybe your going to be like all the rest and only post with those that agree with your comments.
ReplyDeleteanother Hein bashing blog (boreing)
ReplyDeleteHow could the indy party support a fiscal conservative like bernardo in 2008 and support a liberal chump like murphy for congress this year? That's not independence. It's throwing darts blindfolded.
ReplyDeleteThe indy party needs to stop trying to be balanced between rep and dem candidates and start living up to what it says it believes.
Len,
ReplyDeleteI would like to see this blog updated a little more frequently. If you are trying to make the Independence party relevant, we need to know what is going on.
Len,
ReplyDeleteAny interesting applications for Independence party support coming in? Or better yet, that did NOT come in? Inquiring minds want to know.
Marbletown Marble Collector
Nice job on the radio Len. However, I think you let Hinchey off a little too easy. He is in with the cabal that pushed Hein into office. He showed you no respect. He has so far failed at getting Ulster County stimulus money and no one is calling him on it.
ReplyDelete