Mark Sharpton: CEO? I think not!

Problems I see with a CEO/Manager type of County Government. It grows government and is cost more money. After reading a column from well know columnist Ann Coulter about some over paid elected officials in California , made me do some research. As you can look at the links provided in this article once the managerial type government takes root it grows into a mighty tree with a lot of branches.  Here in Oklahoma every county has 3 elected commissioners that work with the other elected officials to make the County function. The Board of Commissioner is not an overlord of the other elected officials. It does not have the untethered power to make them do or perform in any manner other than what the law has set forth. The Board has power that is set by law and is limited by law to perform only those duties. This is checks and balance.When the budget is done in Logan County it is done with all offices represented and normally present. It is a common sense consensus way to do a budget. The Excise Board normally works with all officers at that time to create the budget in the priority that the law mandates. This effectively puts all elected officials in one room talking about what is needed compared to what is wanted.

In the recent years in Logan County has worked together and all have been very frugal. A few people arm chair quarterback’s the decisions that are made, most of the time without the full circle of knowledge of what is required or what is happening. All of the budget meetings are open to the public and you are welcome to come.

The budget is published every year in the newspaper and is always available in the County Clerk’s office. And will be online very soon www.logancountyok.com . In short, Logan County’s budget excluding highway funds this year for all Courthouse upkeep, supplies, electric, water, sewer, payroll for all 8 Elected Officials and hired personnel for every office except the Commission District hired employees is $4,709,321.51.

After a quick look at the payroll posted at Orange County California website http://ocgov.com/about/infooc/employees and adding the relevant but equal positions to Logan County Oklahoma you quickly see that it is a much larger budget and a waste under that type of government.  http://ocgov.com/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=27360 .With a CEO type of county, Elected and some leadership positions payroll added up greater than $4,301,277.91 with no office staff included. http://ocgov.com/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=17030 . That far exceeds our entire budget.
With this quick view and accounting for the fact that the California County is much larger, I absolutely think we have the better way; I like the inexpensive form we have here where I am accountable to you directly.