President's Message - March/April 1999

Omnibus Compensation Bill Could Ease Tension Among Officials
Because all of Alabama's county governments are so different, it is unadvisable to make general statements. You can't say that all of the counties do this thing or that thing. The truth of the matter is that the counties are so fundamentally different that making general statements is extremely difficult.

However, a trip to Montgomery a few weeks ago pointed out again that better cooperation and communication between the so-called "courthouse" officials would benefit all the elected officials on the local level. No, I'm not foolish enough to believe that all of the conflicts or problems between local officials can be resolved. But, the truth of the matter is that some things can be resolved in such a way that all groups concerned can be happy and better relationships can be constructed in the process.

In mid-March, it was my pleasure as president of the ACCA to take part in a program sponsored by what should be one of our sister organizations, the Association of the tax collectors, tax assessors and revenue commissioners throughout Alabama. The program was held in the auditorium of the state Capitol Building and was designed to educate and focus attention on the importance of professional tax assessment and collection on the local level.

The organizers of the program invited us to take part in the program. Our executive director, Buddy Sharpless, and I appeared on the program and discussed the important link that should exist between the office that is responsible for collecting taxes and the office that is responsible for budgeting the revenue that is collected.

Certainly such a positive relationship makes good sense. However, in some courthouses the relationship is not as productive as we might wish. In fact, the relationship between that particular association and the ACCA could probably use a little polish, as well. It is hoped that our participation in that program was a step in the right direction.

The major stumbling block to an improved relationship has been for years - and today remains - the issue of compensation. For the last several years, legislation mandating a pay increase for the tax officials has been introduced in the Alabama Legislature. While at the same time the Association has worked toward the passage of what has become known as the "Omnibus" compensation bill.

That bill, as introduced in the 1999 regular session by Rep. Steve McMillan, proposes modest increases in the minimum pay level for elected officials. The measure also sets in motion a process that would foster a better relationship between the elected officials on the local level and between their associations operating here in Montgomery.

In short, the bill would tie the salaries of local elected officials to the salaries of the rank-and-file employees in the county served by the official. In the future, the elected officials would receive the same cost-of-living increases as are provided for the county employees. This idea seems to make perfect sense, although it is such a departure from tradition that it has taken a long education process for the public as well as the members of the Legislature.

The general principle behind the bill is an excellent one. If there is money for a pay increase for county employees, then the elected officials should also participate. However, if a county does not have the resources to provide a raise for its employees, then no one should go to the Alabama Legislature and "ram through" a mandated pay raise.

If the bill could be passed, it would forever end the annual debate that is the cause of most of the courthouse conflict. Each year the other elected officials become angry with the ACCA because it is opposing their pay raise legislation. And most years the ACCA is forced to oppose the compensation legislation because it is usually an "unfunded mandate" on at least some of the counties.

And that debate spills over from the floor of the House and Senate to the local courthouses. County officials get upset and don't speak to each other. County officials then look for ways to exact retribution on the local level. And, in the end, county officials sometimes do mortal damage to the lines of communication between two individuals that should be allies on the local level.

The debate on this so-called "Omnibus" bill began four years ago. Since then, the bill has been introduced during each regular session of the Legislature and has moved a bit farther through the process. During the 1998 session, in fact, the bill cleared BOTH the House and Senate but died when the Senate ended the session without "concurring" in the House-passed changes.

The fate of the 1999 version of this legislation remains to be seen, of course. The other elected officials, including the tax officials, have introduced mandated compensation increases. And, as we mentioned earlier, the "Omnibus" bill has also been introdued.

However, even with the conflict apparently building again, my optimism for improved relations remains high. As we discussed during that conference at the Capitol, courthouse officials should be working very hard to make positive improvements in their relationships. Even if that means working to find a solution to a problem that some people may believe to be unsolvable.