President's Message - Fall Issue 2003
Drive to Montgomery Important for
Session
The drive from the Jefferson
County Courthouse to our Association headquarters building
isn't all that far -- about 90 minutes or so, depending
on traffic, of course. But it offers one the opportunity
to think about those others around the state who make
similar drives to the headquarters because of their dedication
to our organization.
Our membership is unique in
its leadership role on the local level, but more importantly
it is unique its approach to looking for solutions to
our problems. We can all be proud of the role this organization
has played in moving our state forward during the last
several years.
Sometimes I think the name
of our organization doesn't do it justice; for this Association
works for much more than county government. If you thumb
through our legislative policy statements and our proposed
legislation for the coming year, you see that in many
cases it is this organization - and this organization
alone - that fights for the continuance of programs that
benefit those in our counties who are in the most need
of assistance. If you and others in this organization
stop making the drive to Montgomery, many of those programs
will be dropped by the wayside.
As we discussed during the
convention back in August, our state faces some very tough
decisions in the next few months. The decisions made during
the special legislative session this past fall pale in
comparison to the choices that face our legislators during
the first months of 2004.
With the defeat of the tax
package proposed by Gov. Bob Riley, our state must now
look at substantial decreases in state services or substantial
increases in revenue. Those are the only two choices.
Will the Legislature support
increases in revenue to support these traditionally-state
services or will the 140 members of that body vote to
make substantial cuts in essential state programs that
now benefit our citizens? At this point, one must assume
that the ultimate answer to that question has not yet
been written.
If new revenue sources are
not developed, however, then we as county officials must
be prepared for the obvious next step in the "downsizing"
process. The people in our counties that can least afford
the cuts will almost certainly show up at the courthouse
asking that we pick up the pieces. That's the logical
progression of governmental cost-cutting.
But on the county-level, we
are simply not prepared to take up the slack for state
government. With very few exceptions, county government
cannot levy taxes to generate additional revenue. And
without the ability to raise revenue, we can take on state-shifted
programs ONLY if we discontinue local programs that are
now in existence.
There is no county nest egg
that can be tapped to fund programs that are sliced by
the Legislature. The financial plight of county government
is no better than the circumstances now faced by our colleagues
on the state level. It is important that the general public
be given this information now - before the tough decisions
are made in Montgomery.
It is our responsibility to
use the next few months to educate the public and the
news media on the condition of our individual county budgets
and our inability to assume the responsibility of providing
the programs that face elimination on the state-level.
It is important that counties discuss their financial
condition during up-coming commission meetings and that
the public be educated on the financial condition of its
county government.
It is also important that county
officials throughout our state renew their commitment
to make that drive to Montgomery during the coming months.
This legislative session is almost certain to be one of
the most challenging in any of our careers. And the message
of this Association - a message that extends well beyond
the walls of the courthouse - can only be spread by county
officials.
There will be plenty of opportunities
for you to come to Montgomery. You will be asked to take
part in important organized events - such as your individual
County Commission Day as well as County Day at the Legislature.
But it is just as important that you be in Montgomery
for the other events - committee hearings, on those special
days when important bills are on the floor of the House
and Senate and when you get that frantic call from our
staff or your board and legislative committee representatives.
Our effectiveness rests in
your ability to make that drive. Rest assured, you won't
be driving alone.
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