Hale Named Bloomsburg Coach

James Perrins Sr.

Tuesday, December 22, 1992 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 





for 12-27-92 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 There are better ways to govern &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Luzerne County he news media may harangue, the Gray Panthers may rage, and
many of the public may manage a rash of jokes about it, but the Luzerne County
commissioners seem reasonably safe -- if history is any judge -- in voting
whopping pay increases for the top county officials. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Yes, the increase is more than 16 times greater than the cost-of-living
increase this year. Yes, the increase totals more than a 50 percent increase
(compounded) over a four-year period in their present pay scales. Yes, the
increase is more than seven times what they have offered the county's
unionized employees over a three-year period. One could go on almost endlessly
drawing parallels to illustrate the excessiveness of the pay increase they
have voted their offices. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The point, however, is that the voters have very short memories, and the
earliest any voter could take today's anger to the polls will be two years
away. The commissioners' seats won't be up for election until 1995 -- by which
time an enormous amount of water will have swept under the bridge -- many
favors given, many rewards handed out, and enough entertainments afforded, to
sweep today's resentments into oblivion. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Besides, Luzerne County voters have demonstrated time and again that
they'll forgive these commissioners any excess. After all, it was only two
years ago, after property taxes had been increased by about 50 percent, that
the voters refused to authorize even a look at whether there might be a better
and cheaper way for county government to operate. If these voters couldn't get
aroused over such a hefty dip into their pockets, it seems likely they could
care less about how those taxes are spent. Easy come, easy go. Although, we do
get what we deserve. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Now it is true that a case is made for a salary increase for the members of
the Luzerne County Board of Commissioners. They, and the ten county row
offices which also are covered by this humongous pay increase, are the lowest
paid -- by far -- of 11 other third-class counties in Pennsylvania. And it is
true that none of the current occupants of those offices will necessarily
collect a dime of the new salary; one must be re-elected in 1995 to get it.
So, there is an opportunity for voters, those who remember, to decide who has
been naughty and who has been nice. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 We expect there will be those who are fed up today and will still be fed up
in 1995 with shoddy, self-serving, inefficient government -- and who will
demand a change. We can hope they will become a majority. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 After all, it doesn't have to be this way. There are better means for
governing a county. It doesn't require ten elected row offices, each with its
own budget, staff, patronage, and legal adviser, to do what is, for the most
part, simple office work. It's like having 71 tax collectors to collect taxes
for 55 political subdivisions -- townships, municipalities, and school
districts. We do have them -- and have had them for more than 100 years -- but
we surely don't need all of them to handle today's business ... not, above
all, with the vastly superior transportation, communication, and office
computer and other records-keeping systems in use today. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ook, we could have a single, full-time (and well-paid) elected county
administrator -- as we have a mayor, a governor, or a president -- to be
responsible for running the executive branch of government (there isn't one
today). We could have a council of representatives from the various areas of
the county (so every area is represented) to serve as a part-time legislative
branch (and be much more modestly paid). And we could consolidate most of
those row offices into one, perhaps two, records and service offices within
the executive branch. The third branch, the judiciary, already is independent,
operating as part of Pennsylvania's unified judicial system. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 That is a simple, streamlined, and potentially much more efficient form of
government. It is one that would be vastly more representative, responsive,
and accountable than Luzerne County's current government. And, the voter could
expect to get a lot more for every dollar he pays in taxes. Indeed, an
increasing number of counties in Pennsylvania have adopted this sort of
government. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Instead, the people of Luzerne County are stuck with a system that is so
outmoded that it is like trying to collect municipal garbage with a horse and
wagon. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Of course, the voters have said they think this is all they can afford.
And, of course, it may be that those who were pleased to swallow a 50-percent
increase in county property taxes are perfectly willing to swallow a
50-percent increase in the cost of those running their county government. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 At least, it is evident that a majority of the commissioners and many, if
not all, of the row officers think so. They're counting on us to be our usual
docile, forgetful, compliant selves. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 We'll try to arrange some wake-up calls. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Tom Bigler is a Times Leader columnist. His column appears on Sundays and
Wednesdays. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The people of Luzerne County are stuck with a system that is so outmoded
that it is like trying to collect municipal garbage with a horse and wagon.

For 12-27-92 
There Are Better 
Ways To Govern 
Luzerne County 
He News Media May Harangue, The Gray Panthers May Rage, And Many Of The Public 
May Manage A Rash Of Jokes About It, But The Luzerne County Commissioners Seem 
Reasonably Safe -- If History Is Any Judge -- In Voting Whopping Pay Increases

For 12-27-92 There Are Better Ways To Govern Luzerne County He News Media May Harangue, The Gray Panthers May Rage, And Many Of The Public May Manage A Rash Of Jokes About It, But The Luzerne County Commissioners Seem Reasonably Safe -- If History Is Any Judge -- In Voting Whopping Pay Increases