Get a job
by David Benzion · 06/06/2006 5:57 amThe editors of the Houston Chronicle are calling for the elimination of the Harris County Treasurer’s office:
Until the unexpected death of 70-year-old County Treasurer Jack Cato last month, it appeared that the political career of former Houston City Councilman Orlando Sanchez had finally been interred with an emphatic "rest in peace." Cato had beaten back Sanchez’s primary challenge to the two-term Republican incumbent in his eighth year in office by a decisive 18-point margin.
The setback followed Sanchez’s two unsuccessful Houston mayoral campaigns that ended in runoff defeats. During an joint appearance before the Chronicle editorial board during the primary campaign, Sanchez criticized Cato’s handling of his office. He said that if he won the $96,000-a-year post he would use it as a platform to express his views on immigration and would travel to Washington if necessary.
The county treasurer supervises 15 employees who process payments authorized by county commissioners; it has nothing to do with immigration policy. During his tenure Cato stuck to its mandated duties and avoided embroiling the office in controversy. [snip]
The state of Texas and several other counties have already gone the route of eliminating their treasurer positions. The two Democratic Harris County commissioners, Sylvia Garcia, and El Franco Lee, have indicated they would support such an action.
With Cato’s passing, the time is right to consider whether this appendage of county government is worth the cost. Sanchez has made it clear he would use the office for a political agenda having little or nothing to do with its job description. The Democratic candidate, Richard Garcia, is running on a platform of abolishing it.
In a time when public sentiment demands lower taxes and greater economy of public services, why should taxpayers provide $96,000 a year for an extraneous position to be used only to revive flagging political careers? Harris County commissioners and state lawmakers should give voters the opportunity to answer that question in the near future.
Apparently it was worthwhile to keep paying $96,000 a year for a county treasurer while Mr. Cato was alive– we didn’t want to hurt his feelings by eliminating his "extraneous" position, I guess.
Nevertheless, I agree with the Chronicle’s recommendation completely. [Oooohhh, so bold!] 
And I’m certain that– had they thought of it– the Chron’s editors would have joined me in calling for that $96,000 salary to be devoted solely to property tax relief, and not just be automatically sucked up by the unquenchable sponge that is government bureaucracy.
Gentlemen?
Speak up… we’ve got the makings of a beautiful odd-bedfellow political partnership here.
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If it was good enough for the goose, then it’s good enough for the gander! If we follow your logic then I assume taht you are now voicing support for a lot of issues that need elimination:
1. We should then abolish the Constables and Local Police Departments and just use each County’s Sherif’s Department for Law enforcement?
2. We should abolish all of the School district tax collection departments that are a big waste and drain by duplicating a billing that already is handled by the County Tax department in every COunty?
3. We should abolish all of the hundreds of separate Elections in special “districts” including but not limited to: School Districts, MUD districts, Fire and Emergency Districts, College Districts, Hospital Districts, Improvement Districts; and hold them all at the November General election date at no additional cost…
4. Now for combinations; we can consolidate the Airport function in each county under one administration, taht would save a chunk of money right there.
5. Now I’m sure that I have missed some consolidation somewhere here or there, I remember discussing this in a college political science class in 1971……. and it hasn’t happened yet, so let me congratalute you on being the first to push water uphill and we should all thank ORlando for causing this great feat to finally get the ball rolling, or should I say get the water flowing!
I am willing to bet a dollar to a donut that they will not eliminate this position. Being frugal with our money goes against every fiber of our polititians. Look at the sports authority, they continued that farce too. Once someone is on the taxpayer funded gravytrain they are in HOG heaven.
I bet at least 1/3 of the jobs at City Hall could be eliminated with no noticeable disruption in services.
Gov,local,state and Federal for the most part is nothing but a jobs program for minorities anyway.
# 1, your items 2, 3 and 4 have my vote. Duplicated services are a waste of OUR tax dollars. What pols forget is that is MINE AND YOUR MONEY, not thiers. Its time to stop the waste
You all have cited perfect examples of government bureaucracy gone amuck. Government has always been in the job of creating jobs without producing any revenue. It has to stop so why not start here. The only question is will any politician listen!!!! You would have thought with the modernization of things and computers, a lot of jobs would be eliminated but that doesn’t seem to be the direction the government is going. Government should follow Paul Bettencourt’s example of how to modernize and get things done efficiently.
Actually, #1 some of your proposals have a large amount of merit, but I disagree with the bossman on this one. The function of the treasurer’s office is SUPPOSED to be to ensure that commissioner’s court isn’t running fast and loose with the budget and to throw up red flags when they are spending more than they should or collecting more than they need to cover debts. That is why it is independently elected instead of appointed by the commissioners. This is much the same function Strayhorn is supposed to serve. Cato never did that, he just signed the checks and rolled back over and collected his. He was a human rubber stamp, and that ain’t good.
Paul Bettencourt for President 2008
Smack - you know what’s sad? Bettencort would not have a snowball’s chance in hell to win the Presidency, and here’s why:
The typical American voter would look at his picture and write him off. He looks like an accountant or something and would be written off based on appearances alone as “not strong enough” or something.
That’s not a very optimistic view of the typical American voter, but I think it’s fairly accurate…
#8 jimb
Man that is pretty harsh lol. I don’t think it’s the looks that would do him in, it would be his laugh that scares the hell outta people!
#6
You know Dems and Repubs only care about spending when their party happens to be sidelined after the election season.
#1
I’m all for it. I voted Libertarian the past couple of election cycles. The LP ran for office in many counties throughout Texas on the platform of abolition.
I worked for the County many years ago and every expenditure required approval from the commissioners, so we don’t really need a “Treasurer”. Let the big shot commissioners do that job amongst themselves and save taxpayers $96,000/year. Less government, the better, however, they would all be held accountable for misspending, etc.
#12, but who would hold the commissioners feet to the fire then?
Did Benzion just take a shot at me????
#13 - One would hope that the comptroller’s office would handle that function, since that is where the auditing power lies.
Sedosi, does Harris County HAVE a comptroller? I’m unable to find any reference to it. If so, is it an elected position? Who holds the position now?
9 Smacktle:
You’re right on there. Paul’s laugh is, well, something.
It looks like oversight falls under the Texas State Comptroller’s office instead of a local office. So considering the political nature of that office of late it wouldn’t surprise me if no audits have been completed.
#17, my point exactly. Is it really a good idea to leave oversight to a statewide entity? I mean Harris county would disappear into the background noise even if there were no political issues going on to “distract” the comptroller.
#18
The problem is Orlando is not showing any willingness to perform that oversight. In his own words he’s planning to use the office to “speak out on immigration issues” instead of performing expenditure audits etc.
Of course, the answer would be for the State Comptroller to do their job and end the duplicity but I guess that’s about as likely as Chris Bell calling for a tax cut so……
I just can’t justify casting a vote for Olando when he’s openly advocating using the position in a manner outside of its intended purpose.
There was a time when Republicans stood against that type of thing. (not saying you’re supporting that but you get my point)
#14 Sedosi– a good natured one, yes.
I actually kicked myself when you posted your thoughts, because I had considered blogging about the article (and taking your position) early in the morning, but just didn’t get around to it. And then after I saw your post I thought "Damn, now if I say anything it will look like I’m caving in to Sedosi’s pressure." You can call Dan on-air and put him on the spot yourself. 
Ok guys dod I miss the news story or what - what happened to Carol Alverez
20. David, I’ve got a GREAT voice for blogging, and no desire to hang on hold for an hour to talk with the esteemed Mr. Patrick.
Maybe I’ll e-mail him the question and report it in my blog.
#21 - huh?
#22 Sedosi– good luck with that.
There is - or used to be - an appointed County Auditor who is supposed to keep an eye on things, but when was the last time anybody ever heard of the County Auditor?
In government, as in business, the jobs of approving expenditures, reviewing the approvals and writing the checks, and auditing should be separate. That is why I believe the County Treasurer could still provide a useful function. Streamlining too much is a sure invitation to real financial habky-panky!!
Man I need to get a county job! They pay good. :))
What a joke most of the city of houston is with their committees and oversite. Right.
#25 - Yes, the county does pay extremely well (they did many years ago - 30 something) but they were also very frugal and the benefits are really great, especially retirement benefits - that’s why most commissioners are “stuck” in their jobs. The County Auditor was the “Treasurer” at one time and oversaw budgetary/auditing situations. I still don’t think they need a “Treasurer” position.
well a relative of mine is pres. of the county treasurers association. many small counties the treasurers do payroll collect taxes and set some of the budgets.
these counties need the position.
in my opinion.
bob fulton
hockley