Our host, David Benzion has gratiously allowed all of us here to utilize this medium for political (and other) discourse, and for that I would first like to thank him and Matt Bramanti who recommended me to David for the invitation to join the "staff" here at LST for the opportunity to vent my spleen here on occasion. I and all of my fellow contributors esentially serve at his pleasure. I say all this because I am stepping out of the "party line" so to speak here and David has been gratious enough to support my posting of a contrasting viewpoint. He has stated publically on several occasions here on Lone Star Times that he is in favor to the abolishment of the position of Harris County Treasurer. I respectfully disagree. I would like to state why I feel that is a very bad idea and why I think David and others who have been very vocal about abolishing the office should reconsider their position.
With the exception of those who espouse anarchy or totalitarianism, most all of us can agree that openness and transparency in government, especially state and local government, where there are no national security issues to deal with, is a Good Thing. We, the taxpaying public, must know what government is doing with our funds and in our name in order to judge the appropriateness of those actions. After all, what you don’t know CAN hurt you.
This is not about Orlando Sanchez, Vs. Mr Garcia. This is not about Republican vs Democrat either. It is about accountability. No other office in the County government is in a position to adequately monitor or audit spending by the County Commissioners. This was the very purpose for which this office was enshrined. The County Auditor is not an elected office and is answerable to the county commissioners, not to the taxpayers, therefore the office cannot be objective or independent. Over the years, the commissioners have taken away more and more authority from the treasurer, and have taken that authority as thier own so that they can operate in virtual secrecy, spending taxpayer moinies with impunity with no one to watch over thier shoulders. These have usually been couched as "money saving measures" and have been implemented little by little as time went on. The office no longer issues checks and no longer has auditing authority. The office as been emasculated. The commissioner’s removal of those functions I believe to be unconstitutional, or at the very least wrong. In recent years, the sitting treasurers have been spineless and ineffective and have allowed this office to be emasculated and marginalized. They have been nothing more than human rubber stamps. In my opinion, the question should not be "should the office continue to exist?", the question should instead be "shouldn’t we restore the office to it’s original intent and power?".
How many culverts and paved driveways have commissioner’s court approved for political cronies and friends? How many no bid contracts have been let to friends or contributors? Do you know? Do I? No we do not, and we do not because the commissioners do not want us to know. I seem to vaguely recall a former county commissioner getting in trouble for that sort of thing and ultimately leaving office under a cloud to avoid indictment a decade or two ago, and if memory serves, not long after was when the power of the treasurer’s office started to erode. I think the two can be causally linked.
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This article is well done, and very much “to-the-point.”
Harris County government was until very few years ago, a democrat controlled boondoggle, much like the New Orleans we now enjoy giggling over. Who remembers our wonderful conservative county judge Jon Lindsey, and all the fine things he did to improve taxpayor relations, prior to his replacement by a Republican? Who remembers Squatty Lyons and the ballparks, fire hydrants, and street corners he had named after himself to ensure the voters would remember his name at the right time? Or Jim Fonteno?
We’re down to a lot fewer “old players” now, thanks to the guys like Paul, Dan, and Orlando. I think Orlando woud give the good guys a boost, which is always needed.
The position, as currently armed, might not be a “perfect vehicle”, but it could be a help, especially in the hands of a “good driver.”
For the sake of “full disclosure” I DID meet Orlando briefly at the convention, and I think he seems to be a nice guy. Also, I have to admit that ANYBODY Steve Radack hates SO MUCH just HAS to have some really, really good qualities.
Rorschah,I think we can all agree that accoutability is the name of the game. I too am frustrated to the Nth degree about the lack of it. In an ideal world, we’d know exactly what our elected (and appointed) officials were doing. It would be broadcast on the 10 o’clock news.
It won’t happen. Are you familiar with blogging? I wish more folks were.
Rorschach, you are much too obsequious (although it’s kinda nice, I’ll admit).
While I reserve the right to declare that on a particular issue “THIS is LST’s OFFICIAL position!,” that would be something I would explicitly state. I’m not sure I’ve ever done that yet.
Anyway, the “regular” posts I write simply represent my opinion, not necessarily those of every other LST contributor. And just because an LST contributor writes something, that certainly doesn’t mean that every other contributor shares that opinion, or that LST as a site endorses it.
And–as long as we’re doing an anti-libel/oppo-research-smear booster shot– I’ll just repeat that all of this is DOUBLY true for things people write in comments.
obsequious…i’m going to use that in a sentence tomorrow!
A new word…obsequious…let’s see if I can remember to look it up provided I can remember to spell it correctly.
Getting back to the topic, I can see where we should have accountability for spending Harris County taxpayer dollars by having an “extra” set of eyes and ears to track funds being that the commissioner’s are a little too secretive about notifying the voters of expenditures. Also, some of the commissioner’s have been there much too long and there is a danger there of being “too comforable” and “too political” and not being up front with constituents. We need to vote all of them out next election time and get some new people and ideas in there. However, I don’t see why the county doesn’t fully disclose through the Auditor’s office some kind of monthly or quarterly public report. Anything to save $96,000 from being spent unnecessarily. If that can’t be done, then I think we should have a commissioner’s vote to create the Treasurer’s position but only as a last resort.
The County Treasurer cannot audit and doesn’t have the power to do so.
county treasurers in small counties perform many duties. they do accounts payable, payroll, and collect taxes plus other duties.
this is a needed position in most counties.
i will have the pres. of the texas county tresurers assoc. at my home for 4 days and he could explain it to you further if your interested.
bob fulton
hockley
#6, not anymore, but he/she USED to before the commissioners took it away. That power needs to be restored. at the very least the person can use the office as a bully pulpit in the event that compliance with his or her requests for information aren’t promptly and fully fulfilled. The information is technically open for anyone to review, but few have the time or ready access to the information. the only reason that commissioners court has suddenly decided the office needs to go away is because thier pet human rubber stamp died and someone who might just stir the pot a bit might get the job instead. suddenly it is an important “cost saving move”. if that is the case, why wasn’t it an important cost saving move two years ago? or ten?
#3 David, hell I didn’t even know what the word meant until I looked it up. =D
No Higher Tax: The County Treasurer cannot audit and doesn’t have the power to do so.
Exactly.
This is not about Orlando Sanchez, Vs. Mr Garcia.
It can’t help but be about them because they are the candidates.
Neither candidate is advocating that the office be given extensive audit powers, nor will either candidate have the power to do so after elected. Orlando Sanchez wants to use the office to talk about immigration!
Sorry, Orlando can start a blog if he wants to talk about immigration. Taxpayers and contributors carried him along for quite a little while. He could stand to spend some time in the private sector.
#7, Bob, by all means! I would love to interview him on this topic if he is interested. I can be contacted via e-mail at redinktexasATgmailDOTcom (change the at and dot to the appropriate characters, no point making things any easier for the spambots than need be right?
I will however be out of town (and unplugged) starting Saturday and will not be returning until Tuesday.
#9 Kevin, you are right, those are the candidates we have in front of us. And you are right, neither is indicating a desire to actually function as a treasurer should, actually Mr Sumner I believe DID make such a statement but he was one of the ones sleeping at the switch while the office was emasculated too. Do I like the situation? No I don’t. But I’m trying to keep my eye on a larger issue here. Once the office is disbanded, it is gone, never to return and the Harris County Taxpayer will have lost his or her only hope of EVER getting any kind of accountability out of these people. And you never know, the horse just might learn to sing after all.
#10
he will be here sat and leave tue morn. he did meet with someone in the county a week or so ago. i do not know who he met with but will find out.
i will speak to him on this sat evening when he gets to town. he is my wifies relative.
bob fulton
hockley
#12 we can do it via e-mail, it does not have to be face to face or telephone.
#12
ok will show him this and get you guys together.
bob fulton
hockley
I think that someone needs to check their facts. The County Auditor is not an elected office and is answerable to the county commissioners, not to the taxpayers, therefore the office cannot be objective or independent. This is a false statement. It is true that the County Auditor is not elected but the Auditor does not answer to the County Commissioners, he or she answers to the District Judges. Therefore, he or she IS objective and independent. Also, the County Auditor’s budget is approved by the District Judges, not the Commissioners Court. However, the County Treasurer must stay on good terms with the Commissioners Court because they control his or her budget. Therefore, he or she has NO objectivity or independence. Maybe you should check the law a little better before you make these judgements.
15
You are absolutely correct. Our County Auditor does not serve at the pleasure of the Commissioners. They must accept her budget reports and analyses. Similar to old Grandma in Austin. But of course Grandma’s position is elcted.
#15, if that is the case, and I have been unable to verify one way or another, then I am prepared to admit I am wrong and withdraw my objections. Can you supply backup to your statement (links etc.)?
Someone has to keep an eye on Radack. It is the county treasurer. Cato was Radack’s guy. Orlando is not. That is why Radack wants the position eliminated. Period.
Here are some sections from the Local Government Code:
§ 152.011. AMOUNT SET BY COMMISSIONERS COURT. The
commissioners court of a county shall set the amount of the
compensation, office and travel expenses, and all other allowances
for county and precinct officers and employees who are paid wholly
from county funds.
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
§ 152.017. EXCEPTIONS. This subchapter does not apply
to:
(1) a judge of a court of record;
(2) a presiding judge of a commissioners court in a
county with a population of 2.5 million or more;
(3) a district attorney paid wholly by state funds or
the district attorney’s assistants, investigators, or other
employees;
(4) a county[0] auditor[0], county purchasing agent, or the
auditor’s or purchasing agent’s assistants or other employees; or
(5) a person employed under Section 10, Article 42.12,
Code of Criminal Procedure.
SUBCHAPTER C. AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES OF COUNTY[0] AUDITOR[0]
AND ASSISTANTS
§ 152.031. COUNTY[0] AUDITOR’S[0] SALARY. (a) At a hearing
held in accordance with Section 152.905, the district[0] judges[0]
appointing the county[0] auditor[0] shall set, by a majority vote, the
auditor’s annual salary as compensation for services and the
auditor’s travel expenses and other allowances. The action of the
district[0] judges[0] must be taken by order and must be recorded as
prescribed by Section 152.905 and in the minutes of the district
court.
(b) The district clerk shall certify the order to the
commissioners court of the county for its observance. The
commissioners court shall cause the order to be recorded in its
minutes.
(c) The salary shall be paid to the county[0] auditor[0] by
monthly payments or by any other distribution at the option of the
county.
Here is the link to the website I copied the above information from:
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/
I’m half asleep right now and I’ll be gone for the next four days, I’ll review this with a clear head next week.