County Budgeting Workshop

On March 27, 2009, Polk County Supervisors and Department Heads met for a day-long workshop at Oak Forest, near Frederick to focus on County budgeting issues.  Needless to say, this is a very timely topic these days, with County government feeling the economic pinch along with everyone else.  So, it was good to get together and discuss how Polk County should approach the current situation.  This was by no means a "retreat".  As far as I know, no one brought golf clubs or fishing gear.  If they had, they would have been disappointed, because there was no time to spare all day.

Space does not permit me to go into great detail concerning the many fine observations that were discussed at the workshop.  I predict that there will be changes made because of this workshop, though, and the changes will be positive.

Kate Lawton from the University of Wisconsin spoke on the general issue of the County budgeting process.  She outlined the process and reviewed the statutes that control budgeting at the county level, stressing the need to establish larger, long-range policy goals based on a strategic plan.  

Workshop attendees agreed that the County priorities had to be listed and ordered before starting the budgeting process.

Duane Herbert, the Barron County Administrator, gave us some ideas about how Barron County has faced budget shortages.  When Mr. Herbert spoke, it was apparent that he was an effective leader and well-qualified for his position.  Mr. Herbert certainly made me think that Polk County could use a qualified and experienced professional Administrator to make our county operations run more smoothly.   

Mr. Herbert pointed out that County Board Supervisors are elected to represent the interests of the citizens of the entire county, not particular interests of the Human Services Department, or the Public Safety Department, Highways or of any individual department, when it comes to budgetary issues.   He called this the "silo approach", in which each department stands alone and there is very little, if any, teamwork between the departments.  Mr. Herbert encouraged us to remember that it is everyone's job in county government to focus on the best interests of the entire county.  For example, employees from one department could assist employees of another department, sharing special skills or other county assets, instead of jealously guarding personal turf.

Department Heads, of course, are most familiar with the inner workings of their departments.  Naturally, they will tend to fight for funding for their employees and programs during the budgeting process.  Likewise, when committee assignments are handed out at the County Board, an "ownership" attitude may be created in the mind of the Supervisor assigned to a particular department that may lead a Supervisor to advocate for his/her department needs against the others for funding.  No one is saying that loyalty is a negative quality; however, everyone needs to be reminded of the goal:  We need to come up with a balanced budget.

We divided into groups of five or six Supervisors and Department Heads to discuss the weaknesses and strengths of the budgeting process and brainstorm how we could improve.  Everyone agreed that effective leadership is the key.   Someone asked, "Where does the 'buck stop' in Polk County when it comes to budgeting issues?"  No one seemed to know the answer to that question.  

It was suggested that staggered elections for the County Board would be an improvement over our current system of wholesale replacement of a large percentage of the County Board every two years.  This has led to a steep learning curve while new Supervisors become familiar with Board procedures.  About the time they are up to speed, they are replaced.

I continue to believe that a smaller County Board would be an improvement over what we have now.  The committee structure could be re-examined.  Some committees could merge, paring down the number of committee hearings.  Full-time Supervisors would work with every committee of county government.  A professional Administrator would handle the day-to-day operations of government while the County Board would set the long-range goals and policy agenda.  This would reduce, if not eliminate, the "silo approach" to which Mr. Herbert referred.

The Executive Committee will meet to discuss revisions to the budgeting process in the coming weeks.  High on their list of things to do will be a re-examination of Policy 881, Staffing, Budget Planning and Position Administration.  To view a copy of Policy 881, click here.

Supervisor Pat Schmidt suggested that we look into supplying a sound system with an amplifier and microphones for County Board and Committee meetings, as some members of the public have complained that they have a difficult time hearing during the meetings.  

The workshop on Friday was "rewarding", in the sense that Supervisors and Department Heads, gathered together for open discussion, gained insight into how to improve the budgeting process.  

Margaret Stoneking marries Lucas Koenig in San Diego

Our daughter, Margaret, was married on February 21, 2009, to Rochester, Minnesota, native Lucas Koenig.  Luke is an active-duty Marine currently stationed at MCAS Miramar near San Diego.  His unit is preparing for deployment to Afghanistan later this summer.  Margaret is finishing up her degree in public health education at the University of St. Thomas this semester, and will join her new husband in San Diego after graduation.

It's an exciting time for the kids, and a challenging time, too.

My father was a Marine.  My husband was a Marine.  And now my son-in-law  is a Marine, so the tradition lives on.  

To Blog, or Not to Blog? Is that a question?

The day after I posted my first entry on this blog, I rushed to see whether anyone had read what I had written and had felt the need to comment.  I was excited to receive my first comment a couple of days later.  I have read every one since that first one, whether the comment was positive or in some cases, maybe not-so-positive, and I have appreciated each and every one of them.  

I received a comment this week from a person who chose to remain anonymous, to the effect that I shouldn't have a blog if I never posted on it.  Point taken.

When I started this blog, I wondered whether I would have adequate time to devote to the task.  Jeff Peterson, who obviously does a great job with his blog, was my blogging inspiration.  When Jeff was not re-elected, I thought I would give it a try.  I never aspired to the standard of excellence that Jeff Peterson achieved, but I had hoped to generate some discussion about county issues, sort of a public forum for the exchange of ideas, so I named my blog the "Sounding Board".  In other words, it was never intended to be a soapbox for me; rather, it was my hope that everyone with an interest in county issues would join in.   A few have joined in the discussion and made valuable contributions.

Yes, there is plenty going on in our county.  As a supervisor, I am working to do my best to represent my constituents.  Writing a blog is not something required of County Board Supervisors.  I am not about to make excuses, especially for not living up to someone else's expectations for a volunteer position as an amateur blogger.  Representing my District has been my priority, and will continue to be my priority, of course along with family and personal commitments.

There have been times in the past year when I have ached to write about subjects that have come up, but felt that my spouting off on the blog would not be appropriate or helpful to county interests.  In those cases, I have kept my opinions to myself.  Sometimes I have changed my mind before the vote as more information became available.  As a participant in the process, it is not always appropriate to "think out loud" on pending votes or controversies.