The County Line - March/February 1999

ACCA and Affiliates Provide Quality Educational Programs
Just the other day the Alabama Local Government Training Institute, the group that administers the mandatory training program for newly elected county commissioners, submitted to the Alabama Legislature its fifth annual report. The report, like those offered before it, outlines a record of participation and education improvement of which all concerned can be proud.

Started a decade ago as a voluntary educational program, this project is now one of the few mandatory training programs for county commissioners throughout the country. It is has been copied by other states and even by some other elected officials groups here in Alabama. However, even as we reach the beginning of a new century, it remains the only mandatory training program for elected officials in this state.

Following the 1998 elections, 54 of the 56 newly elected county commissioners attended the first course of the training program. This course was offered in conjunction with the ACCA Legislative Conference in Montgomery and gave the new commissioners a chance to learn about their new responsibilities as well as the relationship between county and state government in Alabama.

It is a testimony to the seriousness of the new commissioners that the session was so well attended even though it was held less than a month after the commissioners took office for the first time.

The law establishing this training program gives each commissioner two years from the time of their first election to the county commission to complete the five courses in the "required" portion of the program. Those commissioners wishing to continue in the program may attend additional courses and become a "graduate" of the program by completing another 70 hours of training sessions and conferences.

The first commissioners to come under the requirements were those first elected in 1994. At that time, 84 new commissioners were elected. At the conclusion of that first two-year period, a total of 70 commissioners completed the requirements of the educational programs.

The law creating the program requires the Alabama Local Government Training Institute to submit a report to the Alabama Legislature outlining the activities during the previous year. During the 1997 regular session of the Legislature, a report was submitted that included the names of those first elected in 1994 who failed to complete the required course.

Then in 1996, a total of 102 first-time commissioners were elected and 74 of those completed the program in the two-year timeframe. The names of the 28 who failed to complete the program are included in the report submitted to Legislature in March of 1999 and will be included in the journal of BOTH the House and Senate.

Alabama officials can be very proud of this program. In addition to the training opportunities, the ALGTI published in 1998 the first edition of "Brushing Up on County Government," a publication aimed at giving new and current county officials an overview of the issues impacting on counties in Alabama. The publication was included with the materials provided to new commissioners and was then also given to sitting commissioners as well as administrators and engineers.

This emphasis on education has not been limited to the county commissioners. In fact, during 1998 it spilled over to the Association's affiliate organizations. Both the Alabama Association of County Commission Clerks and Administrators and the Association of County Engineers of Alabama began extensive evaluations of their education programs last year. Proposed changes in the programs will be presented to both groups during their annual conferences in May.

For the engineers, the recommendations will likely include the creation of a new educational program that will emphasize instruction on the "non-engineering" skills necessary to be a successful county engineer. Topics will include personnel management, leadership, budgeting, public speaking and other topics that are important to the success of a county engineer.

For the clerks and administrators, the proposed changes in their educational program are aimed at generating more participation and increasing the visibility of those who have completed the program and became "certified county administrators."

Even the newest of the affiliate organizations, the County Revenue Officers Association of Alabama, is marching forward with the first "class" of participants in its educational program. This program will likely undergo some changes in the coming years as that organization reaches more county employees. However, in its current form it is an outstanding program that is reaching a segment of county employees that was not being afforded educational opportunities less than two years ago.

All in all, the educational programs of the Association and its affiliate organizations are alive and well and providing quality instruction as we march ever closer to the first day of 2000.