If money makes the world go round, it also spurs debates and loosens tongues.
Members of the CAC (a group charged with drafting a multi-member form of government to present to voters next year) have noted that participation at meetings has thus far been disappointing.
But when charts showing current salary and benefits of a sole commissioner and the projected costs of a multi-member commission were displayed at a CAC committee meeting Monday, there was no shortage of comments.
CAC Chairman Phil Anderson said at one point he enjoyed the more enthusiastic responses from members.
Work by the CAC’s research committee found that moving to a multi-member form of government would likely increase the county budget by between $60,000 and $85,000 each year if the CAC and Pickens residents choose to move to four part-time commissioners and a part-time chair. This option would include a full-time paid county manager whose salary would be roughly equivalent to the sole commissioner.
The chance of costs escalating beyond that $60,000 to $85,000 are increased if a commission board with a full-time chair hires a full-time county manager or county administrator, which would cost taxpayers another full-time salary.
Jon Aldridge, of the research committee, said, based on figures compiled by Chief Tax Assessor Roy Dobbs, the total cost increase would amount to $1 of additional property taxes for every $100,000 of assessed value on homes. For a home with $200,000 of assessed tax value, this would mean an additional $2 paid by the property owner at tax time each year.
Both Anderson and Aldridge said they felt this would be an amount acceptable to voters.
But members of the CAC voiced concerns that public reception of the proposed change to county government may come down to how it is presented.
Jim Looney, a Jasper City Councilman who serves on the CAC, said people will be “cynical about that $1.”
Another member, from the west end of the county, said if voters in her area saw the $85,000 increase in total costs, they would likely vote no for moving to a multi-member form of government.
Paul Lindsey questioned the counties used for researching costs. The counties, including Oconee, Jackson, Dawson and Floyd, are more populated than Pickens and “high rent districts,” he said. He said costs could be lower than projections, particularly in regard to salaries for full-time managers.
While hiring someone with professional experience might be good, he said, the county has been run by commissioners who came to the job with no previous county management experience. He said a middle of the road candidate would suffice.
CAC structure sub-committee chairman John Foust also said he felt a paid manager could be hired for less than $100,000. The current full-time sole commissioner makes $100,696 in salary only, as set by the state for all constitutionally elected officers in Georgia.
The information presented shows salaries for part time commissioners in other counties to be between $9,337 to $11,411 with additional expenses for Social Security and Medicare. In plans being discussed for Pickens, part-time commissioners would be paid a salary in this same range and would also receive stipends for travel and training.
In the discussion, it was noted that part-time commissioners would be allowed to pay to join a government health insurance plan, but that health coverage would not be paid for them by the county.
Anderson said the notion that there would be a multitude of additional expenses with a multi-member commission is not accurate, as the part-time commissioners don’t use offices, staff or full salaries in other counties.
“The notion that you’ll have an explosion of staff because of moving to four additional commissioners is bogus,” he said. “In other counties, they have a single clerk and receptionist for the commission [as Pickens has for a sole commissioner.]”
Many of the salary/benefit issues broached during the discussion were items that would have to be decided once a board is in place. For example, it was asked whether the salaries could be reduced if the economy worsens or whether a full-time commissioner might take a salary cut if an additional manager were hired. The discussion indicated those are issues a commission would have to take up if voters approve moving to a multi-member form of government.
Again, there is still some variable in projections if the county moves to using a full-time chairman, who along with the board could opt to hire a full-time manager or administrator. The salary of the manager would be determined by the commission and could vary depending on who is hired.
Anderson said the $60,000 to $85,000 is the basic cost that will be incurred each year for moving to a multi-member board and that this estimate is on the high end.
“There are no smoke and mirrors,” he said. “We don’t want to give figures that won’t hold up, and we’re not trying to do it on the cheap.”
While figures at this point are presented in ranges, when legislation is created to finalize the format of the multi-member government to be presented to voters, the salaries and expenses will be listed as specific numbers.
Oct. 5th forum
To showcase top three multi-member choices
Voters will have a chance to view the top three forms of multi-member government in a daylong “walk in” forum on October 5th.
At that time, members of the CAC will be on hand to discuss the three forms being considered and to take feedback from the public.
Anderson said they expect good feedback in the less-formal one-on-one format of walking around to stations where the three forms being considered are presented.
This feedback will help the CAC narrow down to one, the multi-member form of government they consider best for Pickens County. Only this top choice will be on the ballot in November 2010.
An explanation of the top three choices can be found at www.pickensprogress.com. Follow the multi-man link to past article “CAC narrows multi-person board options to three.”
CAC members MIA
As the meeting was ending, Aldridge, Anderson and others said they need to ascertain the status of several members of their committee. It was noted that only 20 of the 41 CAC members were present Monday, and several sub-committee chairs were among those absent.
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| PHOTO BY DAN POOL |
| BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS - CAC Research Subcommittee Chair Jon Aldridge explains costs of three final alternatives for a multi-person commission. |
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