Commission to seek county efficiency

By Richard Bice and Michael Engelken

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Voters For Improving Linn County Government has started a petition drive to gather the 10,000 signatures required to have the Linn County Board of Supervisors establish a commission to review all aspects of Linn County, including department structures, expenditures and form of government.

Our organization was initially founded because of concerns that the supervisors were ignoring expressed desires of residents. The primary issues were their decisions to give themselves a 25 percent salary increase and to establish a facilities manager after four years of having it under the county auditor, along with several other issues.

Each of the decisions was implemented through a supervisors' resolution with a quick implementation and limited discussion despite broad public opposition to their approach.

Each decision increased the cost for the county.

Our desire was to reverse the decisions. However, after studying the Iowa State Code, we were disappointed by limited options.

The Iowa Code did identify that individuals could petition the supervisors to establish a commission to review the county government and potentially recommend other forms of government. We selected it because it is a broader look at county government.

A commission requested by petition would be able to review how Linn County compares to other counties in all aspects. The commission would have to submit a report to the Board of Supervisors with its findings and any recommendations. Some recommendations, such as a potential change in form of government, would become a ballot item in the next general election. Any change determined by election could only be changed by voters.

The supervisors could implement changes now through a resolution with a simple majority but then reverse the decision later. We prefer changes have a more permanent basis.

Hopefully, the commission would consider a change in form of government to establish a county manager and part-time supervisors, look at consolidating some departments and review all areas for potential cost reductions. The concept of a county manager and part-time supervisors would be similar to the change that Cedar Rapids implemented, resulting in better efficiency and lower costs.

The county manager would have the background and expertise to handle all county activities and not be subject to the potential election year changes with elected supervisors.

The benefit of an experienced manager and part-time supervisors is that the manager would focus on the daily business of running a county government and supervisors could spend more time listening and advocating for residents. Part of the efficiency also should be fewer supervisor meetings.

Areas to consider for cost reductions include:

l The span of control for Linn County is about 4 to 1, with 854 employees and 160 in management; this is very low when considering private industry strives for 16 to 1.

l Could some departments be consolidated like in Marshall and Woodbury counties, which combined the auditor and recorder offices?

l There are 17 county employees who make more than $100,000 base salary and more than 90 employees who cost more than $100,000 with benefits included.

l The county is expecting a $3 million to $4 million reduction in property tax revenue because of recent state tax reform legislation. Without cost reduction, we can expect the tax levy to increase to offset the lost commercial revenue.

It is obvious that Linn County government needs to be more efficient in order to overcome revenue reductions while still providing excellent representation, and we believe a commission will be able to evaluate the best form of government. If you believe now is the time to investigate change, please contact us at Improvelinn

cogov@gmail.com.

Richard Bice of Marion is a retired businessman, and Michael Engelken of Cedar Rapids a retired financial controller for Rockwell Collins. Comments: Improvelinncogov@gmail.com