Cut expenses. Scale back. Pull in the belt. Consolidate services.
Local government officials are hearing those phrases a lot these days and not just from residents fearing big tax hikes in tough times. State and federal officials, who know they won’t give our towns, cities and schools as much financial love this year, also are saying it. It is a good time, local officials are told, to adjust priorities and think about what communities can do without.
Here are a couple of things off the top of my head: Jury commissioners and some constable services.
Most counties in this day and age don’t have much use for a jury commissioner and have said publicly that they don’t want one (i.e., Cumberland County). Other staff and computers are handling the job.
Why then, you might ask, would a county waste your hard-earned money to keep jury commissioners on the payroll? The answer is simple: They can’t be fired.
It is a mandate, a requirement of the state that counties have to keep this position intact — barring only a few exceptions.
There’s more. Consider our constables. Under state law, counties are required to pay constables to be present at polling places each Election Day.
This is despite the fact that in some cases — a precinct in Susquehanna Twp. for one — people vote someplace right beside a police station.
If the rare voting booth melee actually ensued, couldn’t the police handle it? Taxpayers are right to ask: Why can’t we save money and keep the constables at home?
The reason? Another mandate.
So I guess the state’s thinking is that although a requirement might be outdated and unnecessary, it doesn’t mean that you and I shouldn’t still pay for it.
Just last week, the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania released its top priorities for 2011, among them investing in farmland, methods for fixing bridges and improving emergency services. But the No. 1 goal of the group is mandate relief.
It isn’t just counties facing this problem. School districts deal with numerous mandates ranging from what must be taught and tested to how building construction is bid and when teachers can be furloughed.
During a year when Gov. Tom Corbett is talking about slashing $1 billion from public schools, they want some help.
For example, the Pennsylvania School Boards Association says the state must take a hard look at the prevailing wage laws. It is one of the most costly mandates on school construction.
Prevailing wage is determined by the hourly wage, benefits and overtime paid in the largest community in each county. It is then used to pay workers, laborers, and mechanics on construction jobs related to some government entities. PSBA is suggesting it be suspended for two years so that the recent federal stimulus money can be used to its maximum. This is something worth exploring.
The worst part for local governments is that even when they get less money from the state and federal government — which is certain this year — they don’t get a break on all the requirements — they are unfunded mandates.
Here’s another ironic example. Tax money is down because of the economy meaning counties have less revenue yet they are not allowed to collect real estate taxes through a county office they must use local tax collectors. Making the switch would save even the smallest counties $100,000.
Certainly there are mandates and statutory provisions that are important and need to be in place. But on other fronts, our local officials need to have greater flexibility in order to save money where they can. Lawmakers need to take a hard look at these mandates and provide relief where it makes sense.
Will it happen this year?
Brinda Carroll Penyak, deputy director of the county commissioners group, says lawmakers seem to be listening as county commissioners tell them of the grim realities they face. She said she is “pretty encouraged” that there could be changes this year.
With luck, she’s right.
When county officials look at their budgets at this time next year, let’s hope line items for jury commissioners, constables at polling places and some tax collectors, among other unneeded expenses, will have been removed.
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