National Association of Counties • Washington, D.C. NNACo ... · Quik Takes Inside this issue ......

“The wisdom to know and the courage to defend the

public interest”

National Association of Counties • Washington, D.C. www.naco.org • www.countynews.org

Vol. 38 No. 15 • July 31, 2006

Quik Takes

Inside this issue ...

NACo

■ See TAX STORM on page 12

■ See HANSELL on page 2

■ See METH on page 3

Douglas County, Colo. 2.2 %Los Alamos County, N.M. 3.0 %Hunterdon County, N.J. 3.5 %Ozaukee County, Wis. 3.6 %Hamilton County, Ind. 3.6 %

Counties with the Lowest Lowest Poverty Poverty RateRate

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

BY JIM PHILIPPS

MEDIA RELATIONS MANAGER

County law enforcement offi cials across 44 states reported that meth-amphetamine remains the number one drug problem in their county, according to a new survey by NACo, released July 18.

The survey of 500 county law enforcement offi cials also found that while meth lab seizures have sig-nifi cantly decreased — due largely to new so-called “precursor” laws which limit the purchase of basic meth ingredients — crimes related to meth continue to grow, as has the workload of the public safety offi cials responding to them.

Meth use remains popular in Western states, but is spreading east across America, and most meth now, the survey said, is imported from out-of-state locations.

The survey, The Methamphet-amine Epidemic: The Criminal Ef-fect of Meth on Communities, was conducted by NACo to determine the effect of methamphetamine abuse on counties and their resi-dents, and to raise public awareness of the meth epidemic.

“The abuse of this highly addic-tive, brain-altering drug continues to destroy lives and strain essential county services across America,” said NACo President Bill Hansell. “NACo has taken a leadership role in fi ghting meth abuse and conducts these surveys because counties are on the front lines in responding to the methamphetamine epidemic. Meth abuse causes remarkable fi nancial, legal, medical, environmental and social problems for counties.”

The NACo survey found that: • Meth continues to be the

number one drug problem. More

NACo survey: Meth remains NACo survey: Meth remains number one drug problemnumber one drug problemMeth-related crimes continue to grow

NACo President Bill Hansell will fi nish his term during one of the largest NACo Annual Con-ferences in recent years. More than 3,300 delegates are expect-ed to visit Cook County, Ill. for the 2006 Annual Conference and Exposition, Aug. 5 – 8.

Traditionally, County News interviews the outgoing NACo president about his or her term. Following are Hansell’s refl ections.

CN: How would you describe your year as NACo president?

It has been an honor, and a very rewarding experience for me to serve as NACo president. As I look back over the year I do not think I would change a thing.

Bill Hansell reviews his term

CN: What was the most challenging part of your role as president?

Probably balancing the responsi-bilities I have as a Umatilla County commissioner, with those as NACo president. Thanks to my colleagues on the Umatilla County Commission, I believe I have been able to accomplish that balance, but it has been challeng-ing at times.

CN: What did you fi nd most interesting or exciting?

There are a couple of answers to this question. Without a doubt the most interesting has been the oppor-tunity to meet with local offi cials in their states. There are so many great people serving in county government. I have been able to greet old friends, and make new ones.

In addition it has been very in-teresting and exciting to represent counties as president in a host of dif-ferent settings. NACo has a very well deserved positive reputation through-out Washington, D.C. Because of this platform, I as president have had the opportunity to speak, meet and to interact in a wide variety venues. These have been pretty exciting for this Eastern Oregon farm boy.

CN: What advice would you give your successor?

First of all, I have every confi dence BY ALYSOUN MCLAUGHLIN

ASSOCIATE LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR

A line of fi scal hurricanes is amassing off the coast, threatening to bombard counties across the na-tion. While a few storms may head off to sea or dwindle to a tropical storm, their combined force may wreak havoc on your county bud-get. Reconstruction could cost county taxpayers billions of dollars.

The force behind this weather pat-tern? Not Mother Nature, but an all-powerful U.S. Congress. Congress is moving swiftly toward passage

of several bills that would increase federal revenue by slashing county taxes. County offi cials would be left to pay the bill by cutting services, increasing other taxes, or both.

The logic behind increasing federal revenue by compelling local tax cuts is that most businesses, under current law, can deduct state and local taxes from their federal income tax. If state and local taxes are cut, these businesses will deduct less — and thus pay more in federal taxes.

Congress poised to slash state, local revenue sources

Photo by Dan Miller

Oklahoma County, Okla. Sheriff John Whetsel speaks at the NACo’s press con-ference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Also pictured are NACo President Bill Hansell (center) and NACo Executive Director Larry Naake.

Bill HansellNACo president

On Aug. 8, delegates at NACo’s 2006 Annual Business Meet-ing will chose the association’s next second vice president from among four candidates. Read the candidates’ platforms. See pages 10–11.

Learn how other counties solve vexing problems and better serve their constituents. Read our newly renamed Model Programs from the Nation’s Counties, formerly Focus on Achievement. See page 15.

2 County News, July 31, 2006

Bill HansellNACo President

I Am GratefulAs I put together my thoughts

for my fi nal “From President’s PDA,” I was told this would be my 22nd col-umn. When NACo staff contacted me about doing a column while serving as president, I thought it would be a fun opportu-nity and challenge. I indicated I would like to try and do one for each issue of County News. I pretty much was able to reach that goal. I trust that those of you who read them found some value in these communications.

So as I began to refl ect, look back over this year and prepare my fi nal column, the descriptive word that kept coming to my mind was the word “grateful.” There is so much for which I am grateful. Let me list a few in no particular order.

Grateful for the opportunity

This past year has been an in-credible opportunity for me, and one that I shall never forget. The platform of the NACo presidency has provided the opportunity to serve in a way that would not have been possible otherwise.

Grateful for my executive committee colleagues

It has been a pleasure to work with the other offi cers. No NACo president could have received more support and encouragement than I have. They are a great group of dedicated individuals, and all of us are going to be well served, as the other offi cers move up through the chairs.

Grateful for the NACo staff

I cannot begin to tell you what a joy it has been to work with such a great group of dedicated and pro-fessional people who make up the NACo staff. From our executive director, Larry Naake, on down, we have a great crew at 440 First St. NW.

Grateful for the accomplishments

Together we have accomplished a number of exciting things this year. NACo is in a strong fi nancial posi-tion; we are ready to move into a new headquarters; our membership is at an all-time high; we have been major players on the Hill; we have had many signifi cant legislative vic-tories; our prescription drug plan is off and running; and who would have ever thought the Methamphetime Initiative would take NACo to the position of prominence it has. There is not room to list everything, but

we have made a difference. And that should make all of us grateful.

Grateful for the Katrina response

The response we had to help the hurricane-hit counties and parishes in the three Gulf Coast states was incred-ible. The nearly $250,000 raised is now being used to assist county and parish employees in those states. We were able to respond to a huge need in a signifi cant way.

Grateful for the state associations

Over the course of my tenure as a NACo offi cer, I will have attended around 48 state association meetings, including a few states more than once. I was the recipient of gracious hos-pitality everywhere I went. Counties are well served by their state associa-tions, and they in turn make NACo that much stronger.

Greatful for youWhat an honor and privilege for

me to be associated with those of you in county government across the nation. I am grateful for all of you who have chosen to serve in this capacity. Our strength is in our di-versity. I quickly learned that county governments are both different and the same.

Each state has its unique fea-tures of county government, but at the same time counties share much

in common. I am grateful for all of you who are serving your constituents and trying to make a difference. I am honored to serve with you.

Grateful for friends, family and faith

These three are foundational for me. This year has given me the opportunity to meet new friends and connect with old friends. The support and encouragement I have received has been tremendous. I have a lifetime of memories. Two of those friends have been my fellow Umatilla County commissioners, Dennis Doherty and Emile Holeman. Without their support, this past year would not have been possible.

This NACo journey would also not have been possible without the support of my wife Margaret. She is an amazing woman, and the smartest thing I ever did was to ask her to marry me over 39 years ago. I am not so sure her answer was the smartest thing she ever did!

Lastly I am grateful for the blessings I have received from God, one of which has been serving as NACo president. It has been something very spe-cial for this rural eastern Oregon commissioner. I am one grateful country boy.

in Colleen, and she will do a wonderful job next year. Secondly, she doesn’t need any advice from me.

CN: What’s next for Bill Hansell?

I am looking forward to one more year on the NACo Executive Com-mittee as past president. In May, I was elected to another four-year term on the Umatilla County Board of Commissioners. I plan to continue to serve in these capacities.

CN: Any fi nal thoughts? I want to thank all of those who

have made this past year possible. I have tried to stress teamwork, and that team has done a great job. The NACo staff is talented and dedicated. They sure made my job easier. We have seen some very signifi cant things happen not the least of which was what we did with the methamphet-amine issue.

My colleagues on the NACo Executive Committee have been so supportive, and I thank them for their service and wisdom. NACo should not miss a beat as we progress through the chairs in the years to come.

I want to thank all you who day by day are serving your constituents in one of the nation’s 3066 counties. I commend you for your dedication and service, and I thank you for the privilege you gave me to represent you as president of the National As-sociation of Counties.

I would be remiss if I did not mention how important my wife, Margaret, has been to me this past year. We traveled together to many of the state meetings, and whenever possible she participated in the CASA presentations. Her love, support and encouragement have been invaluable to me.

This year has been one of tre-mendous personal satisfaction and fulfi llment, and I trust in some small way I have been able to make a dif-ference. Thanks to all for giving me that opportunity.

BY ALYSOUN MCLAUGHLIN


After a bruising battle in the House of Representatives over mandatory voter outreach in Na-tive American, Asian and Hispanic languages, the Senate unanimously approved legislation on July 20 re-authorizing expiring provisions of the Voting Rights Act. The measure now goes to the president, who has vowed to sign it.

Expiring provisions that have now been renewed through 2032 include Section 5, which requires certain jurisdictions with a history of obstacles to minority voter partici-pation to pre-clear changes in their voting practices or procedures with the U.S. Department of Justice, and Section 203, which requires jurisdic-tions with a concentration of limited

Congress extends Voting Rights Act provisions English profi cient Native American, Asian or Hispanic residents to pro-vide bilingual voting assistance.

In addition, the legislation strengthens the Voting Rights Act by overruling recent Supreme Court decisions in Bossier II and Georgia v. Ashcroft. The law will now deny pre-clearance of a voting change if the change suggests a discriminatory purpose or produces a discrimina-tory effect. The previous standard had been “and,” not “or.” In addi-tion, it denies pre-clearance when the Justice Department determines that a redistricting change would diminish the comparative ability of a minority group to elect a candidate of choice. The new law also provides for prevailing parties to recover expert witness fees in addition to attorney fees.

Under current law, a new list of counties required to provide minor-ity language outreach under Section 203 is developed once each decade. The new law specifi es that this list will be updated every fi ve years based on data from a new census instrument, the American Commu-nity Survey.

In the meantime, the Justice Department’s comptroller general is required to conduct a study within the next year on the implementa-tion, effectiveness and effi ciency of Section 203 and to identify alterna-tives to the current administrative process.

An amendment to strike the lan-guage outreach requirement failed in the House by a vote of 185–238. This amendment had signifi cant support in the Senate where a similar margin

could have blocked passage of the legislation. In addition, there was substantial support for an unsuccess-ful amendment in the House to alter the threshold for which jurisdictions are subject to pre-clearance.

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) protested the speed with which the legislation was proceeding and in-troduced an amendment during the committee markup on July 19. How-ever, he acknowledged prior to offer-ing the amendment that it would not be considered, and he voted for the legislation anyway. His amendment would have changed the defi nition of limited English profi ciency used in determining which jurisdictions must comply with Section 203, so that it would only include those whose primary language is other than English who report speaking

Hansell gives parting words as outgoing president■ HANSELL from page 1

■ See VOTING on page 13

English “not well” or “not at all.” The current defi nition also includes those who say they speak English

County News, July 31, 2006 3

New meth surveys point out drug’s growing menace to law enforcement■ METH from page 1

counties (48 percent) reported that meth is the primary drug problem – more than cocaine (22 percent), marijuana (22 percent) and heroin (3 percent) combined.

• Crimes related to meth contin-ue to grow. Fifty-fi ve percent of law enforcement offi cials reported an increase in robberies or burglaries in the last year, 48 percent reported an increase in domestic violence, and 41 percent reported an increase in

simple assaults. Thirty-one percent reported an increase in identity theft crime, which is up from the 27 per-cent reported in the July 2005 law enforcement survey.

• Legislation that restricts the sale of precursors works. Ninety percent of counties have some kind of precursor legislation in effect. Forty-six percent reported that the number of meth lab busts is down because of precursor legislation in their jurisdictions.

• Meth has increased the work-load of public safety staff. Sixty-three percent of counties reported an increased workload in the last year and 73 percent reported that they are paying more overtime.

• Meth use remains popular in the West and is spreading east. In Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Washington and Wyoming, 100 percent reported that meth is the number one drug. However, close on their heels are Oklahoma, with 88 percent report-ing meth is number one; Iowa at 79 percent; Louisiana at 75 percent; Nebraska at 74 percent; and Oregon at 71 percent. This information cor-relates with the national trend that meth is a drug that is largely popular in western rural areas and is spread-ing across the country from west to east.

In Georgia, 63 percent reported that meth is number one. In North Carolina 44 percent reported that meth is number one, and in Ala-bama 43 percent reported that meth is number one. This information verifi es law enforcement trends that meth is growing dramatically in the Southeastern region of the country.

• Most meth currently being used is from outside of the state. Eighty-fi ve percent reported out-of-state importation and 71 percent re-ported importation from Mexico.

• Meth-related arrests continue to represent a high proportion of crimes that require incarceration. Forty-eight percent of the coun-ties reported that up to one in fi ve inmates is incarcerated because of meth related crimes. Seventeen percent reported that one in two inmates is incarcerated because of meth-related crimes.

The new survey is the fi fth released in 12 months by NACo, the only national organization that represents county governments. In July 2005, NACo released two surveys on the impact of meth abuse on counties. Key fi ndings indicated that meth was the top drug threat to county law enforcement offi cials and that meth was responsible for an increase in out-of-home place-ments for children.

NACo receives grant to help counties respond

to methBY LESLEY BUCHAN

PROJECT MANAGER

NACo will initiate a two-year project to raise public awareness and help county governments respond to the nation’s methamphet-amine epidemic. The project will emphasize substance abuse treat-ment and prevention programs. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance is funding the project.

In consultation with its Meth Action Group, NACo has pri-oritized potential grant activities to support county efforts in best responding to meth in their communities.

NACo plans to carry out a mix of research and educational programming to meet this goal. For example, outreach efforts could involve informing counties of creative ways to fund task forces and other collaborative response groups, and how to identify and work with local partners. NACo will also identify promis-ing research, models and practices with an emphasis on treatment and prevention and will share that information through the Meth Action Clearinghouse on the NACo Web site, www.naco.org, workshops, teleconferences, County News and other list-serve communications.

During the two-year effort, possible activities include: • educational sessions at NACo and state association confer-

ences• online trainings or teleconferences that describe promising

models and approaches for developing a local comprehensive response to meth in communities

• developing and distributing a toolkit of materials, and• continuing research efforts regarding the methamphetamine

epidemic and the impact to counties.

(For more information or to share what your county is doing in response to methamphetamine use in your community, please contact Lesley Buchan at [email protected] or 202/942-4261.)

New Meth Video Teaches Just One Time —

Just Don’t!Dying for Meth is a new video on the dangers of methamphet-

amine use produced by Full Fathom 5 Productions and Matt Farnsworth Films. Farnsworth was the featured speaker on methamphetamine abuse at the 2005 NACo Annual Conference. His presentation featured clips from a documentary called Poor Mans Dope and a feature fi lm called IOWA. The presentation was very well-received by NACo members in attendance and many requested that the information be made available on DVD.

Since his presentation, the fi lm IOWA was released theatri-cally in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and many smaller cities in the Midwest. Farnsworth has been featured on a number of news shows, including Fox News Live, Good Day New York, Fox and Friends, and the Situation with Tucker Carlson regarding the meth epidemic and his fi lms.

Farnsworth’s presentation last year focused on the need for education on the methamphetamine problem, particularly the need to educate young people on the dangers of the drug.

Listening to NACo members’ desire for a vehicle to provide this knowledge, he produced the DVD Dying for Meth. This DVD targets junior high school, high school and college students, law enforcement agencies, governmental agencies, church groups and other community organizations with the message JUST ONE TIME – JUST DON’T.

Dying for Meth shows kids how dangerous the drug really is, and the message JUST ONE TIME — JUST DON’T provides the warning that this drug is not one to experiment with. This is a particularly important message right now, when control of precursors is making the mom-and-pop labs of old give way to much more powerful Mexican Ice. Education should now be the focus to slow meth use by controlling demand.

Dying for Meth is designed for viewing in a group setting and is perfect for integration into a junior high or high school cur-riculum on health education and in law enforcement training.

The program, designed by NACo and Full Fathom 5 Produc-tions, provides NACo members with an incentive to purchase multiple copies of Dying for Meth for distribution across their county. The incentive available to NACo members involves the following discounts on the purchase of the video.

Regular Price........... $150 per copyNACo Price .............$135 1-4 copies $127.50 5–9 copies $120.00 10+ copies

In cases where 10 or more are requested, please call 310/795-1337 to order.

Each county is encouraged to purchase at a volume that is commensurate with the number of junior high schools, high schools, law enforcement agencies and other pertinent organiza-tions within the county.

A sample of this video may be viewed at www.dyingformeth.com. To purchase under NACo pricing, please click on the NACo but-ton on the site.

In January 2006, NACo released two additional surveys that found that meth was the predominant drug that drove people to county public hospital emergency rooms and that the need for meth treatment was growing.

“The primary objective of our effort is to promote action by the

Administration and Congress to control and reduce the production, distribution and abuse of meth, including assistance to counties in responding to the problem lo-cally,” Hansell said. “We need a comprehensive strategy that will deal with all aspects of the meth problem.”

A bill passed by the House July 26 would require interoperability plans for state and local government fi rst responders as a condition of eligi-bility to receive homeland security grants. The measure, H.R. 5852, is intended to beef up communications capacity among fi rst responders. It would establish an emergency com-munications offi ce at the Department of Homeland Security, headed by an assistant secretary, with the authority to deny funding for interoperability grants if no plan has been submitted or voluntary equipment standards met.

This just in ...Interoperability offi ce at DHS?

A Senate committee is also expected to consider a bill this week, which includes a similar provision.

Curbs on Establishment Clause lawsuits?

The Senate Judiciary Committee July 26 took up a bill, H.R. 2679, that would make it more expensive to sue local government offi cials over public expressions of religion. The proposed legislation would prohibit plaintiffs in such cases from recov-ering monetary damages, costs or lawyer fees.


PROFILESIn Service...

“The wisdom to know and the courage to defend the public interest”

President: Bill Hansell • Publisher: Larry NaakePublic Affairs Director: Tom Goodman • Executive Editor: Beverly Anne Schlotterbeck

Senior Staff Writer: Charles Taylor • Staff Writer: Dan MillerGraphic Artist: Jack Hernandez • Editorial Assistant: Allison Mall

Advertising Staff:Allison Mall: Job Market/Classifi eds representative

Beverly Schlotterbeck: National Accounts representative

(202) 393-6226 • FAX (202) 393-2630

Published biweekly except August by: National Association of Counties Research Foundation, Inc.440 First Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001

(202) 393-6226 • FAX (202) 393-2630E-mail: [email protected] • Online address: www.countynews.org

The appearance of paid advertisements in Coun ty News in no way implies support or en dorse ment by the National As- so ci a tion of Counties for any of the products, services or messages advertised. Pe ri od i cals post age paid at Wash ing ton D.C. and other offi ces.

Mail subscriptions are $100 per year for non-mem bers. $60 per year for non-members pur chas ing mul ti ple cop ies. Ed u ca tion al in sti tu tion rate, $50 per year. Member county sup ple men tal sub scrip tions are $20 each. Send pay ment with order and address chang es to NACo, 440 First St. N.W., Wash ing ton, D.C. 20001.

POSTMASTER: send address changes to Coun ty News, 440 First St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001(USPS 704-620) • (ISSN: 0744-9798)

© National Association of Counties Research Foundation, Inc.

If you have a com pli ment, com plaint or dif fer ent point of view, let us know.

County News invites Letters to the

EditorPlease in clude a phone num ber with your letter. Mail, fax or

e-mail to: Coun ty News, NACo, 440 First St., N.W., Wash ing ton, DC 20001-2080; 202/393-2630; [email protected].

Number of years active in NACo: 14

Years in Public Service: 45

Occupation: President, Lake County, Ind. Council

Education: Certifi cate in public administration

The hardest thing I’ve ever done: Fought fi re as a Gary, Ind. fi reman

Three people (living or dead) I’d invite to dinner: Commis-sioner John Stroger; Former President Bill Clinton; Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

A dream I have is to: see all of my grandchildren graduate from college.

You’d be surprised to learn that I: sing in my church choir and usher.

The most adventurous thing I’ve ever done is: boxed in the Golden Gloves.

My favorite way to relax is: watching television, a good movie and sporting events.

I’m most proud of: my children and grandchildren.

Every morning I read: my local newspaper, The Post Tribune and The Hammond Times.

My favorite meal is: chicken, red beans and rice, greens, sweet potatoes and cornbread.

My pet peeve is: people spreading rumors.

My motto is: helping people to help themselves.

The last book I read was: Transportation 101.

My favorite movie is: The Ten Commandments.

My favorite music is: back-in-the-day soul and jazz.

My favorite presidents are: Bill Clinton and John F. Kennedy.

Will A. Smith, Jr.President

Lake County, Ind. Council

ChairNACo Transportation Steering Committee

BY CHRISTINA ROWLAND

CSD SENIOR ASSOCIATE

NACo recently received a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to provide technical assistance to county offi cials wishing to strengthen their local health care safety net and expand access to health care for vul-nerable populations.

Across the nation, more than 45 million Americans lack health in-surance, and many more are unable to access affordable, high-quality care. This fi gure is expected to rise as health care costs continue to grow and health care disparities continue to permeate the nation’s health care system.

In response to this need, NACo will use funding received from the Kellogg Foundation to target the nation’s most vulnerable communi-ties, including rural counties; coun-ties with high levels of uninsured residents; counties that demonstrate a need for resources; and counties designated as medically underserved or as “health professional shortage” areas.

The project’s goal is to mobilize local leadership to improve quality and expand access to health care through county-led community partnerships.

In the fi rst step toward achiev-ing this goal, NACo will sponsor a two-day “Health Leadership Institute” later this year. Institute participants will receive training in areas such as:

• creative fi nancing strategies • building community coali-

tions• involving consumers in deci-

sion-making

New NACo project will help strengthen health care safety net

• program planning• leveraging public and political

will• engaging the faith and nonprofi t

communities• building private sector support• developing a business plan,

and• calculating the return on invest-

ment for community-based systems of care.

NACo also plans to provide indi-vidualized technical assistance to six to 10 counties or regions, available on a competitive basis. The techni-cal assistance will support a region’s efforts:

• sponsor a health care expert or leader to facilitate a community vision or action forum

• assist in developing a business plan

• assist in replicating a model pro-gram that has demonstrated success in increasing access to health care in another community, or

• bring in an outside expert to facilitate a plan for measuring the return on community investment.

In addition, NACo plans to distrib-ute a monthly e-newsletter, provide workshops at conferences and host teleconferences, among other educa-tional activities.

(For more information on the ac-cess to health care project, or if you would like to share your county’s experiences, please contact Chris-tina Rowland at 202/942-4267 or [email protected].)

BY DAN MILLER

STAFF WRITER

AARP recently recognized the Clackamas County Volunteer Con-nection as the best and largest money management program in Oregon. The program helps both senior citizens and adults with disabilities manage their money better.

The volunteer-run organization, which was heralded as a national model at a recent AARP press con-ference, organized accounts for 350 clients last year with assets worth $3 million. About 175 volunteers have provided approximately 9,000 hours of service for the program’s clients.

Karen Kasserman, program manager for Clackamas County, said many of the program’s clients have been evicted multiple times or had their utilities shut off because of their inability to pay.

“Sometimes these clients are mentally not capable of day-to-day fi nances, some have been abused, some have gotten involved in tele-vision buying sprees,” Kasserman said. “The services that our vol-unteers [provide] are as important to their clients’ stability as is their housing and medication.”

This is the way the program works: Clients are referred by a

Clackamas County program helps seniors manage fi nances

few sources, but mostly from the county’s social services and mental health departments.

After deciding if the candidate is volunteer-appropriate, he or she is as-signed a case manager and a volunteer who will discuss the client’s expenses, need for savings and how much spend-ing money to give them.

The program sets the client up with an AARP bonded and insured bank account, which is regularly monitored for misuse. After the client’s expenses are taken care of, they are presented with options on how to spend the rest

■ See FINANCES on page 7


BY DALEN A. HARRIS


The Senate has approved H.R. 5441, the FY07 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appro-priation bill. The legislation proposes $32.8 billion for the department in FY07, and is $350 million less than the House-enacted version passed in June.

The bill provides slightly less overall funding for key state and lo-cal programs compared to the House enacted version.

Specifically, the Senate bill proposes:

• $500 million for the State Homeland Security Grant Program

(compared to $545 million enacted in the House)

• $745 million for the Urban Area Security Initiative Grant Pro-gram (compared to $770 million enacted in the House)

• $350 million for the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Grant Program (compared to $400 million enacted in the House)

• $220 million for the Emer-gency Management Performance Grant Programs (compared to $180 million enacted in the House)

• $553 million for FIRE Grants (compared to $543 million enacted in the House), and

• $277 million for First

Responder Training and Exercises (compared to $339 million enacted in the House).

The bill proposes $1.58 billion for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Ac-count, $199 million for FEMA’s Flood Map Modernization Fund and $150 million for FEMA’s Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program.

Throughout debate, numer-ous amendments were proposed to increase funding for programs important to county governments. However, the Senate remained fi rm and no amendment that would have increased the budget cap for the bill was adopted.

Nonetheless, Sen. George

Voinovich (R-Ohio) was successful in offering an amendment that added $15 million for the Emergency Management Performance Grant Program; and Sen. Jeff Bingaman (R-N.M.) sponsored another promising proposal.

The Bingaman proposal would create a grant program within DHS to assist local law enforcement situated along the nation’s border. Authorized at $50 million a year (from FY07 through 2011), these funds could be used by local law enforcement for hiring additional personnel, obtaining necessary equipment, upgrading law en-forcement technology and covering

Preparedness Directorate (includes Offi ce of Grants and Training and Fire Administration Grants)

Key State and Local ProgramsFY03Enacted

FY04Enacted

FY05 Enacted

FY06Enacted

FY07 President’s Budget Request

FY07House

FY07Senate

State Homeland Security Grant Program $1,866 $1,675 $1,085 $550 $633 $545 $500Urban Area Security Initiative $736 $720 $885 $765 $838 $770 $745Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Grant $0 $497 $386 $440 $0 $400 $350FIRE Grants $694 $725 $715 $655 $293 $543 $553Emergency Management Performance Grant $165 $174 $174 $185 $170 $180 $220State and Local Training Programs $345 $266 $446 $346 $211 $339 $277Citizen Corps $31 $35 $15 $20 $35 $20 $20Metropolitan Medical Response System $50 $50 $30 $30 $30 $33 $35

Subtotal $3,887 $4,142 $3,736 $2,991 $2,210 $2,830 $2,700

FEMA ProgramsDisaster Relief Fund $776 $1,740 $2,042 $1,700 $1,941 $1,662 $1,582Flood Map Modernization Fund $150 $193 $200 $200 $199 $198 $199National Predisaster Mitigation Fund $150 $145 $100 $50 $150 $100 $150Emergency Food and Shelter $153 $148 $153 $151 $151 $151 $151

Subtotal $1,229 $2,226 $2,495 $2,101 $2,441 $2,111 $2,082Total $5,116 $6,368 $6,231 $5,092 $4,651 $4,941 $4,782

Department Of Homeland Security Budget Figures in millions

Senate DHS funding slightly off for localsovertime and transportation costs. Eligible applicants would include agencies serving local communities within 100 miles of the U.S. border with Mexico or Canada, and any other departments located outside of this geographical limit desig-nated by the DHS secretary as a “high impact area.”

Priority in awarding grants would go to law enforcement agencies serving communities with populations under 50,000, and lo-cated within 100 miles of the U.S. border. The amendment would not change the federal government’s responsibility to enforce illegal immigration.

FEMA

Another hot topic the bill ad-dressed concerns the organization of DHS’ Federal Emergency Man-agement Agency (FEMA).

Throughout the past year mem-bers of Congress have introduced legislation to transform FEMA. While many in Congress have sought to restore FEMA’s indepen-dence outside of DHS, others have strongly endorsed a proposal to re-store its preparedness and response functions within DHS.

The Senate approved an amend-ment sponsored by Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), that would restore FEMA’s preparedness re-sponsibilities and keep the agency within DHS. This issue has yet to be resolved in the other chamber, and it remains unclear if House conferees will support the provision.

House Transportation and In-frastructure Committee members, Government Reform Committee members other House members continue to strongly support the removal of FEMA from DHS.

The DHS appropriation bill will now move forward to conference, and the two chambers will work to resolve possible contentious dif-ferences. The Senate has named Sens. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.), Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), Pete Domenici (R-N.M.), Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), Larry Craig (R-Idaho), Robert Bennett (R-Utah), Wayne Allard (R-Colo.), Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.), Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Her-bert Kohl (D-Wis.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) as conferees. House conferees have yet to be named.

NACo will continue to keep members posted about any future developments to the FY07 DHS Appropriation bill.

NACo, in partnership with the state associations of counties, has launched the 2008 Presidential Elec-tion Project, in an effort to reach candidates seeking the presidency in 2008 and getting them to focus on county issues.

The goal of the project, which is a non-partisan effort, is for candi-dates to hear similar messages from county offi cials on key issues. Hear-ing the same message from county offi cials will encourage candidates to focus on those issues during their campaigns and when they return to Washington, D.C.

“Through this project, county offi cials can infl uence the election of the president and the issues the candidates discuss,” said NACo President-elect Colleen Landkamer, who is leading the project with

Second Vice President Don Stapley. “It offers a unique opportunity to raise the visibility and understanding of the issues that affect counties and their residents.”

The project is currently focus-ing on Iowa and New Hampshire, the states where the fi rst primary and caucus will be held. These states were also chosen because the candidates meet with county offi cials in their homes, at local coffee shops and county facilities,

giving these county leaders strong opportunities to speak with candi-dates one-on-one.

NACo staff has begun reaching out to the candidates to fi nd out when and where they will be campaign-ing in Iowa and New Hampshire. Once that information is known, the staff and the state associations will encourage county offi cials to meet with candidates, and even host events. County offi cials are also en-couraged to contact NACo with any information they have concerning potential candidate visits, events and meetings.

“It may seem as though the 2008 election is a long way off, but start-ing early is critical to the success of the project,” Landkamer said. “Potential candidates have already begun making regular trips to Iowa

NACo launches 2008 Presidential Election Projectand New Hampshire.”

To assist the county offi cials in their discussions with the candidates, NACo has developed talking points on four key issues that are important to all Americans.

Landkamer and NACo staff vis-ited Iowa last September and New Hampshire in November to meet with county offi cials and discuss how the project will work. The meetings were set up by the New Hampshire As-sociation of Counties and the Iowa State Association of Counties, who are working directly with the NACo staff on the project.

The project has been endorsed by all of the state associations of counties in the country, which will enable it to expand into other states depending on the success in Iowa and New Hampshire.


Recently, NACo received an e-mail from a county HR director who had been approached to include additional deferred compensation pro-viders for its employees. The e-mail posed a number of detailed questions about the NACo program. As a result of performing its due diligence, the county ultimately decided not to add more providers.

A summary of the questions, and the answers provided by NACo follows.

E-mail text:I am the HR Director for a Florida

County Commission and am responsi-ble for our Section 457 Deferred Com-pensation program. We have been with the NACo/Nationwide (NRS) program for more than 20 years.

Recently, we were approached by three other vendors seeking to be added as providers. They made presentations to our county Insurance-Benefi ts Committee. It is clear that they have higher fees and charges within their programs than in the NRS program.

Despite this, some employees would like to use them instead of or in addition to Nationwide, as it is their perception that these other providers would more aggressively manage their invested funds and reap higher returns.

The County Commission is the fi duciary for the current program. I took the request to increase provid-ers to them and they declined to add more providers. Despite this, some

committee members continue to be interested in an expansion.

IssuesCounty: As I see it, one drawback

to increasing the number of programs is that either the committee or com-mission (or both) must directly and periodically review and analyze the fund offerings and performance of the new programs on a regular basis. This would greatly increase the staff time spent on this function.

Moreover, the county would need to hire a competent advisor or consulting fi rm to perform the review and analysis. This means the cost of providing the benefi t would increase substantially.

NACo response: As part of its

contract with NACo, Nationwide Retirement Solutions is required to conduct an ongoing analysis of the funds that are included in the Section 457 deferred compensation program. This analysis is conducted in compli-ance with contractually stated criteria and reported to NACo and its Deferred Compensation Advisory Committee at least annually.

Nationwide reviews all the fund offerings and may make recommenda-tions such as putting them on watch, walling them off or closing them, based on their compliance with the criteria. Of course, no action is recom-mended for most of the funds.

County: Expanding the number of providers would require coordination to preclude excess contribution by an individual in more than one plan. This would likely be a new staff duty or we would have to pay one of the programs to perform this function.

NACo response: You are correct that increasing the number of provid-ers adds work for the county staff. In addition, our experience shows us that when more than one provider is offered to employees that overall participation is lowered as too many options fre-quently confuse the decision and we see “paralysis by analysis.”

County: There would be an increase in errors regarding enroll-ment, changes in enrollment and con-tribution rates as employees adjust their level of participation. From my perspective, these “complications” militate against increasing the num-ber of providers.

NACo response: You are also correct that multiple providers would

mean more coordination is required on the part of the county and the em-ployee to make sure that deferrals are within legal limits.

County: How did NACo end up with Nationwide as the provider?

NACo Response: In 1980, shortly after Section 457 of the Internal Revenue Code was enacted, after a competitive solicitation, NACo en-tered into a contract with PEBSCO to offer the program to county em-ployees. PEBSCO was acquired by Nationwide in the early 1980s.

Over the more than 25 years that NACo has offered the program, we have instituted a rigid degree of over-sight of the program. On an ongoing basis, NACo and Nationwide meet to review the program in regard to its fund offerings, education ap-proaches and programs, participant service and satisfaction as well as other components.

In addition, over the years, NACo has hired consultants and issued re-quests for qualifi cations among the universe of deferred compensation providers. This process, which was last conducted in the late 1990s, included detailed interviews, discus-sions and site visits.

County: What criteria were used to select Nationwide?

NACo response: Nationwide Retirement Solutions was selected for several reasons. Nationwide

• serves the public sector exclusively

• serves the entire county market (small and large counties)

Due diligence: Th e NACo Deferred Compensation ProgramDue diligence: Th e NACo Deferred Compensation Program

■ See DILIGENCE on page 9

The County Leadership Institute (CLI) is for elected offi cials from NACo member counties who are either members of the governing board or serve as county executive. Two spots are also reserved for state association executives.

The annual program is held in late May or early June at the NYU Wagner facilities in New York City. State associations nominate recently elected, up-and-coming offi cials and NACo selects up to 25 for each class.

The four-day program helps participants gain a broad perspec-tive — both about themselves as leaders and about the issues facing their communities. In addition to nationally recognized NYU Wagner faculty, the many resources available in New York City provide a unique instructional program. Session for-mats include faculty presentations and dialogue, small group activities, peer consultations, site visits in New York and evening social events.

ESRI, FreddieMac, MAXIMUS, NACo’s Financial Services Center and Nationwide Retirement Solu-tions sponsored this year’s CLI.

The Class of 2006

Stephen J. AcquarioExecutive DirectorNew York State Association of CountiesAlbany, N.Y.

Tony AtkinsonCommissionerSan Juan County, N.M.

Katherine “Kitty” BarnesCommissionerCatawba County, N.C.

Sheila BiggsCommissionerDickinson County, Kan.

Valerie K. BrownFirst DistrictSupervisorSonoma County, Calif.

Toni CarterCommissionerRamsey County, Minn.

Daniel ChadwickExecutive DirectorIdaho Association of CountiesBoise, Idaho

Peter M. CorroonMayorSalt Lake County, Utah

Joni L. EastleyCommissionerNye County, Nev.

Lenny EliasonCommissionerAthens County, Ohio

Lynda Ring EricksonCommissionerMason County, Wash.

William W. GablerCommissionerGrafton County, N.H.

Cheryl JahnelSupervisorMitchell County, Iowa

David JenkinsJudge-ExecutiveSpencer County, Ky.

Cynthia A. JohnsonCommissionerPondera County, Mont.

Angelo KyleBoard MemberLake County, Ill.

Susan LatvalaCommissionerPinellas County, Fla.

Deborah K. MackCommissionerHall County, Ga.

John MaynardSupervisorSanta Cruz County, Ariz.

Wilson H. ParranCommissionerCalvert County, Md.

Helene M. ReedFreeholderGloucester County, N.J.

Martha SchraderCommissionerClackamas County, Ore.

Don StapleySupervisorMaricopa County, Ariz.

J. Walter TejadaBoard MemberArlington County, Va.

Congratulations, 2006 County Leadership Institute Fellows

Addressing Radon in the Indoor Environment, the second in a series of County Indoor Air Quality Issue Briefs, examines:

• what radon is• health effects of radon exposure

in the indoor environment• how to test for radon• techniques for remediation in

existing homes and radon-resistant construction for new homes, and

• resources for radon outreach.The brochure is available at

www.naco.org/techassistance, click on “Air Quality.” The next Indoor Air Quality Issue Brief will address environmental tobacco smoke.

Energy Guide: Achieving Energy Effi ciency in County Facilities is a tool for county staff directly respon-

sible for managing the energy use of their county facilities — an energy or facilities manager, buildings and operations manager, general services director or even an energy czar.

By following the steps and ac-cessing the resources outlined in the guide, county staff will learn how to meet their energy goals and ensure the county uses energy more effi ciently, while saving taxpayer dollars and protecting the environment.

The guide is available online at www.naco.org/energyguide.

To request copies of both pub-lications or to learn more about the NACo ENERGY STAR® Courthouse Campaign contact Kelly Zonderwyk at kzonderwyk @naco.org or 202/942-4224.

NACo announces new publications for members


NACo expands water quality assistanceBY ERIK JOHNSTON

COMMUNITY SERVICES ASSISTANT

NACo has received new grant funding from the EPA to help county offi cials protect water quality in their communities. As both rural and urban populations continue to grow, coun-ties are challenged with protecting drinking water supplies, providing citizens with effective sewage and water infrastructure, restoring wet-lands and managing water in situa-tions of drought.

The EPA is increasingly working with states and local governments to improve water quality protection tools. One of the most prominent tools that counties across the nation

have encountered or will encoun-ter in the future is the EPA’s Total Maximum Daily Load program or TMDL. This program provides coun-ties with a pollutant calculation tool and is used in most efforts to restore polluted waters.

Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) have been the impetus for many county-led or supported water quality improvement success stories. However, there have also been a few lawsuits fi led against specifi c TM-DLs and some confusion about the program at the local level.

This project will provide county staff and offi cials with information to help them navigate the TMDL

BY CYNTHIA MOSES-NEDD

BLM LIAISON

Many ranchers and communities will benefi t from the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) new grazing rules which go into effect in August. The regulations will not only improve working relationships between the BLM and the more than 15,000 ranchers whose livestock graze 160 million acres of the nation’s public lands; but they will also foster im-provements to the range.

A number of commissioners wel-come the changes. WIR President and Lemhi County, Idaho Commissioner

Grazing regulations improve relationships with communityRobert Cope said, “Consideration for traditional uses of public lands cer-tainly is important to the culture and heritage of the American West. The new rule appears to make it simpler for the BLM to work closely with permittees to apply a common-sense approach to grazing management.”

Provisions, such as the removal of the three-year temporary non-use restriction on grazing permits and the requirement to use new or existing monitoring data where an allotment is failing to meet range land health stan-dards, will allow for more analysis of grazing’s effects on range lands.

Likewise, communities will ben-efi t from greater changes that require BLM to cooperate with grazing boards established by tribes, states, counties and local governments as it is review-ing range improvement and grazing allotment management plans.

BLM Director Kathleen Clarke noted, “These new regulations are aimed at promoting more effective and effi cient management of public land grazing, which is a vital part of the history, economy and social identity of Western rural communities.”

Some of the key regulation changes will:

• authorize the BLM and a

rancher to share title to future range improvements

• phase in grazing-use decreases or increases of more than 10 percent over a fi ve-year period. BLM retains authority to respond quickly and make changes to grazing levels in case of drought, fi re and other condi-tions.

• promote a consistent approach by BLM managers in considering and documenting the social, cultural and economic effects of decisions to de-termine levels of grazing use

• remove a restriction that lim-ited temporary non-use of a grazing permit to three consecutive years

• require the use of existing or new monitoring data where the BLM has found that a grazing allotment is failing to meet rangeland health stan-dards, and

• allow up to 24 months for the BLM to analyze, plan and take action in cases where grazing practices are at issue. The BLM previously had to decide on such grazing action prior to the start of the next grazing season.

While an environmental group has challenged the new regulations, the BLM is confi dent the rules are based on sound science which will allow them to withstand any legal challenges.

of the money. For instance, clients can use their leftover money for new appliances, travel or to have a relative visit.

According to Kasserman, the need for these kinds of programs is over-whelming because the clients who get into dire fi nancial situations often require other services such as nursing homes and case management.

“The cost-savings alone will come to a community, just in fi nancial benefi ts, a hundred times over,” she said. “It’s a good community invest-ment for the people who receive the services and for the volunteers to contribute.”

Kasserman said that the Clacka-mas program will pay for itself if it prevents two individuals from going into a county-supported nursing home at the current rate of $44,000 per per-son per year. She attributes the success

of the program to her county com-missioners’ dedication to promoting healthy independence for seniors and keeping them in the least restrictive environments possible.

“The wonderful thing about the Clackamas program is that it is not only helps seniors but people with cognitive disabilities,” said Sara Wurfel of AARP Oregon.

In the survey, 65 percent of re-spondents often or sometimes face being unable to read or understand fi nancial materials while another 56 percent say clients often or sometimes face fi nancial abuse.

“The survey verifi es what we’ve been hearing anecdotally for years — that many older adults and adults with cognitive disabilities face great challenges managing their money,” said Jerry Cohen, AARP Oregon state director. “This creates a tremendous barrier to independent living and opens the doors to fraud and abuse.”

Financial management program ‘will pay for itself’■ FINANCES from page 4 process and learn more about other

tools available to help counties pro-tect their water resources. The project will include the creation of an edu-cational issue brief and a workshop at NACo’s Annual Conference. The issue brief will be published in early August and the workshop “Tools for Protecting and Improving Water Quality” will take place on Aug. 6 from 2 to 3:15 p.m. during NACo’s Annual Conference in Cook County (Chicago), Ill.

(For more information, contact Erik Johnston, community services assistant, at [email protected] or 202/942-4246.)

www.naco.orgFree for the Free for the Clicking!Clicking!

As a NACo member, you can access dozens of NACo publications for free in the exclusive Members-Only section of NACo's Web site!

Take a look on-line at www.naco.org/membersonly …then get clicking!


Great words to describe NACo’s newest member service

A new e-mail update service for NACo’s Web site that makes it easier for county offi cials to stay on top of the latest news and information for counties.

NACo’s FREE e-mail subscription management service sends e-mail updates whenever new information is posted on its Web site so you can be the FIRST to know.

It’s EASY to sign up for updates by clicking on the “Personalized E-mail Update: eSubscribe” icon on the homepage or on one of the many “E-mail Update” icons located throughout the site.

You can choose from nearly 50 update topics, including:• Cost Saving Programs for Counties • Conferences and Events• Jobs Online • Awards• Training and Technical Assistance • News Releases • Library Resources (Publications, Surveys, Model County Programs)

www.naco.org


NACo annually measures NRS performance against competitors■ DILIGENCE from page 6

• provides world-class products and innovative service approaches, and

• devotes the resources (people and technology) we require.

County: Has NACo conducted any sort of performance review and comparison of Nationwide against any other fi rms offering the same products? How does NRS stack up with the competition? How do our employees and constitutional of-fi cers benefi t from participating in the NACo program rather than by starting up separate programs with other vendors?

NACo Response: We conduct regular reviews of Nationwide and have a number of ways to measure their competitiveness.

On an annual basis, we hire a con-sultant to conduct an analysis of the fi xed option that Nationwide offers to make sure that its return is in the top third of nine other providers. We’ve been contracting for this study for more than 15 years, and Nationwide has always had the highest return.

Also, on an annual basis, NACo hires an independent consultant to

analyze the fi nancial creditworthiness of the entire Nationwide company to make certain that our participants’ assets are being managed by a fi nan-cially healthy company.

In addition, Nationwide is con-tractually required to tell us on an annual basis the lowest rate they will pay on the fi xed option for that year and then, on a quarterly basis, to fi x the rate. Historically, Nationwide has exceeded the fl oor.

NACo’s Deferred Compensation Advisory Committee meets at least three times a year with Nationwide and NACo staff to review the program’s progress, offerings and participant satisfaction. The com-mittee is composed of 15 program participants from around the coun-try who are elected and appointed county offi cials as well as the execu-tive directors of two endorsing state associations.

In another form of oversight, the executive directors of the 42 state as-sociations of counties that endorse the NACo/NRS program meet four times a year with Nationwide to review the program.

In addition to calling Nationwide with a question, you as program administrator or your employees as

participants can also call NACo. If we can’t answer your question, we will make sure you get a speedy response from Nationwide.

County: Is Nationwide the exclu-sive provider under NACo or does NACo have other providers?

NACo Response: Nationwide is NACo’s exclusive deferred compen-sation provider.

County: Can NACo provide a subject matter expert to us to explain the pluses and minuses of NRS’s per-formance?

NACo Response: We can ar-range for someone from Nationwide to review the fund performance of our program.

County: What should we already be doing to ensure that the commis-sion is properly fulfi lling its fi duciary duties?

NACo Response: Regarding your fi duciary responsibilities, there are fi ve basic principles to follow (these are from a fi duciary handbook pro-vided by Nationwide):

1) Act solely in the interest of the plan’s participants and benefi ciaries.

2) Maintain the plan and its assets

for the exclusive purpose of provid-ing benefi ts. In accordance with the plan document and Internal Revenue Service rules, all funds are placed in a trust for the sole benefi t of employees and their benefi ciaries.

3) Act with care, skill, prudence and diligence as a prudent person would act in a similar circumstance.

4) Diversify the plan’s assets to minimize risk unless it’s prudent to do otherwise. That’s why Nationwide of-fers more than 40 investment options ranging from the most conservative to the very aggressive. Funds are diversi-fi ed within each of these investment profi le categories.

5) Maintain the plan in accor-dance with governing laws and the plan document. Nationwide’s legal staff ensures that the plans in our program remain in compliance with all applicable rules, regulations and laws.

I hope I’ve answered your questions. Please do not hesitate to contact me for clarifi cation or more information.

(End of e-mail text)

As a result of this exchange and the participation in a meeting of the Insurance-Benefi ts Committee by

NACo and the Florida Association of Counties staff, the county decided to maintain its exclusive agreement with the NACo program and Nationwide Retirement Solutions.

According to the county HR Director, “We came to NACo with questions because additional vendors were knocking on our door claiming to be able to provide a better return on investment for our employees. During their presentations, however, each expressed the desire to provide the deferred compensation program primarily to provide entree to sell additional products and services, such as personal insurance, to our employees, as the 457 program has little profi t in it.

“Benefi cially, the stimulus pro-vided by these vendors’ queries, prompted us to look more closely at our long-standing business rela-tionship with NACo and NRS. As a result, we validated the level of quality and dedication of NACo and NRS to the well-being and fi nancial security of our employees and their investments.

“This is the right focus for any deferred comp program and is the key to the decision to remain with them.”


NACo Candidates’ Platforms

Supervisor Teresa L. AltemusGloucester County, Va.

Supervisor Valerie BrownSonoma County, Calif.

When elected to the offi ce of NACo sec-ond vice president, I will continue to build on NACo’s tradition of diverse leadership as well as be a strong advocate on behalf of all counties. By ensuring equal and balanced representation, I will use my leadership skills to explore options and provide solutions so that our voice will be compelling and effec-tive both across this nation, and in the halls of Congress.

With my close proximity to our nation’s

Experienced leadershipMy platform is built on a foundation

of experience. I have served as Member-ship Chair for the last two years and as a NACo advocate before Congress, as well as a Board Member and member of the Meth Action Committee, Health Steering Committee and Rural Action Caucus. Each new NACo opportunity to serve has deep-ened my commitment to our association, to America’s counties and to the constituents who depend on us.

I’m especially proud to be a part of a new membership program that is helping raise the awareness of the value of our organization. My home state of California is now a 100- percent state, and membership in NACo is at an all-time high of 2,171 counties, parishes and boroughs. NACo is only as strong as our participation in our association. Our growing numbers make a difference in Washington. As an offi cer, I will dedicate my energies to making NACo stronger.

I have prepared myself for the NACo second vice president position, announcing my candidacy back in early 2005. I sought this position with the encouragement of my fellow Sonoma County Board members and chose to run only when I could ensure that I could fully commit the time and effort this offi ce requires.

Strengthening partnershipsWe are a national association, but we

rely on the enthusiasm and vitality of our state associations. I am committed to sup-porting our NACo staff and to reaching out to all state associations, relying on board

members and state association executives as important allies in the NACo family. We have done excellent work with U.S. Communities, our corporate partners and member services. Our new prescription drug benefi t program is a good example. I support collaboration with other associations and expanding public-pri-vate partnerships. We must foster alliances to enhance our advocacy and to provide programs of value for our members.

Listening to membersOn my frequent travels throughout Amer-

ica’s counties, I have listened to supervisors, commissioners, freeholders, judges and police jurors tell their stories — of best practices, innovation and leadership approaches that are making a difference in their counties. It is your ideas and suggestions — your questions and concerns — that best shape our policy goals. I am committed to listening and acting together. Our shared stories enlighten congres-sional policy makers and help get results for our constituents.

Representing your concernsFor more than 15 years, I have traveled to

Capitol Hill and worked with lawmakers on behalf of constituents. I know we must stay committed to effective advocacy in Washing-ton. Vital county services and programs will be put under even greater pressure in coming years. The NACo fl y-ins are extraordinary tools to direct congressional attention to our concerns. You can count on me to person-ally maintain those efforts as an offi cer of NACo.

California is a state with tremendous di-versity: as diverse as our great nation. Alpine County in the Sierra Nevada mountains has 1,200 people and Los Angeles County has 10 million. As a state legislator and now as a county supervisor within our state associa-tion, I know the problems and challenges of rural, suburban and urban counties. I am committed to representing all of America’s counties, and all of the different people and communities that make up our wonderful country.

Building on teamworkNACo cares about teamwork — just look at

the steering committees, Large Urban County and Rural Action Caucuses, and special task force meetings. Teamwork is a core value for our incoming NACo president and for our offi cers. It is important to our NACo executive director and staff, and our state associations.

capital and to the NACo offi ces, I embrace the opportunity to travel at a moment’s notice to Washington, D. C. to advocate and support our issues before Congress.

My in-depth experience with initiatives that benefi t large urban and small rural counties is gained from thousands of hours of dedicated service to NACo, to my state association and to my county. An involved, enthusiastic and steadfast member of NACo for over 13 years, I have been active and par-ticipated in numerous committees such as:

• Human Services and Education Steer-ing Committee, Chair - 2003, 2004, 2005

• Human Services and Education Steer-ing Committee, Vice Chair – 2002

• Meth Action Group• Homeland Security Task Force• Rural Action Caucus• Information Technology Committee• Rural Family Economic Success Insti-

tute• WON – Women Offi cials in NACo

“As the candidate from the Common-wealth of Virginia, I respectfully ask for your vote, your support and your involvement to continue to bring balanced representa-tion in NACo. Together we can make it happen!”

P. O. Box 352 – Wicomico, Va. 23184 – 804/642-5444 – [email protected]

Note: The platforms presented here were provided by the candidates for NACo second vice president. They have been printed without editing.

for Second Vice President

■ See BROWN on page 11


I am committed to teamwork as the way to get things done. We have diverse strengths, knowledge and backgrounds we can harness to produce innovative results. In particular, I want to help grow our grassroots advocacy efforts — one of our association’s most powerful and effective tools.

Caring about peopleI was raised in the Midwest and now live

on the West Coast. I have dedicated my career to caring about people: as a teacher, counselor, business advocate, city representative, state legislator and now, as a county supervisor. My current job is the most challenging — and satisfying — in my career. As you know, we get to really help people and solve problems that matter in their lives. I am fully committed

NACo Candidates’ Platformsfor Second Vice President

to advocating for families, businesses and you — our county leaders — on behalf of our association, so that life can be better for the people we serve. Caring about people is also important in how we work with each other within our association.

Preparing for our futureDemands for county services increase

each year and funding is always a problem. The future will just grow more challenging. Homeland security, potential federal fund-ing cuts to Medicaid and Medicare, disaster preparation and repair, unfunded mandates and un-reimbursed local costs, support for agriculture, federal lands policy, CDBG — the list goes on. We must be ready. I am prepared and willing to do the hard work that will be required as a NACo offi cer. You can count on me.

Police Juror Joe FullerRapides Parish, La.

I have always taken the position that “If it ain’t broke — then don’t fi x it.” We may have a few kinks here and there that may need to be rectifi ed, but overall our system works and it works well.

To those who would advocate “divisive-ness” — I see only one NACo. There is no such thing (in my mind) as rural vs. urban — small town vs. city. County problems are universal despite population size or geographic location. My position: Keep NACo whole.

The politics of “fear” and “partisanism” have never truly served NACo well. I have as many Republican friends back home as

I do Democrats. It never hurts to be on a fi rst name basis with both of your U.S. Senators — Republican Sen. David Vitter and Democrat Sen. Mary Landrieu. I am! NACo is at her best when we judge people by the contents of their character and not party politics.

As a member of the NACo Finance Committee, I am advocating that we start NOW! exploring and taking the necessary steps to someday soon own our own build-ing. The only time you can truly control your own destiny is when you can factor in your own cost based on “this is our prop-erty.” Further, then your portfolio shows this ownership as an asset.

As a member of the NACo Financial Services Committee, I advocate that we continue to provide fi rst-rate goods and services to our members at a signifi cantly reduced price.

Being on the forefront of new technol-ogy and services — my county is one of the ones utilizing the new prescription drug card program. Programs such as this one will always be one of the greatest pursuits of my leadership for our membership.

People who know me know that I tend to say what I mean and mean what I say. I have no intentions of trying to be all things to all people. What you see is what you get. There are no smoke and mirrors. NACo knows where I stand on most issues. My reputation and heart have been entered into the records.

The state of our union is strong.

Commissioner Harry B. MontoyaSanta Fe County, N.M.

As NACo second vice president, I will bring leadership, a strong vision and results for all counties. But most of all, I will bring a deep, abiding respect for our local communities and the hard work they do on the front lines to protect the Heartland of this great country.

Leadership• I will work tirelessly to ensure that ALL

counties are heard and understood in the White House and halls of Congress. That means rural and agricultural communities will be heard equally alongside our urban cities.

• We are the chief stewards of our great Heartland. As second vice president, I will build partnerships with counties, state, local, tribal, federal entities and nonprofi t organiza-tions to address issues such as trespassing, littering, illegal dumping, land management, public land use, geospatial systems and geo-graphic information systems.

• I will work with other governmental and non-governmental entities to ensure our borders are strong and protected, and sup-port additional federal funding for unpaid mandates.

Vision• I will develop and support community-

specifi c training and education materials based on the unique needs of each and every county.

• I will create an Underage Drinking Prevention Initiative throughout the entire country. Alcohol and drug abuse are spread-ing through our communities like a wildfi re. We must respond aggressively with education, treatment and prevention services.

Results• As NACo second vice president, I will

continue to support important NACo initiatives such as affordable housing, methamphetamine prevention and other initiatives directly im-pacting our local communities.

To learn more about our campaign, please feel free to visit our Web site at www.montoyafornaco.com.

One last thing — here in New Mexico, our local elected offi cials are term-limited and, unlike my opponents, this election is my one chance to serve on the NACo Executive Com-mittee. I have this one opportunity to push the ideas I’m passionate about, and my love and commitment for local communities, to the forefront of our national debate. I promise you I’m going to give it 110 percent.

It is with this community-based platform that I am running for NACo second vice president. I look forward to seeing you in Chicago.

County elected offi cials casting their vote for NACo second vice president in Chicago are seeking a leader with the skills and experience on which they can depend for the next fi ve years. Our nation is at a critical juncture, and local governments are faced with shrinking budgets and increased federal control of our funding and local program support.

I advocate more local control, and demand that fi nancing of programs and the balancing of state and federal budgets not be placed on the backs of our heavily burdened county governments.

That’s why I’m running for this offi ce, and why it’s so important to me that we have strong leadership at NACo that will build partnerships for our future, beginning at a local level.

My experience in building consensus at the local and state levels, as well as my deep commitment to supporting the success of all of America’s counties, make the choice clear. Let me share with you why you should cast your vote for me, Harry B. Montoya, Santa Fe County, N.M. commissioner.

I was born and raised in Santa Fe, N.M. and have spent most of my adult life in the nonprofi t sector working with all types of educational, health and social service pro-grams. In 1994, I was elected to the Pojoaque Valley School Board, which I served on until 2003. In 2001, I was honored to become the president of the New Mexico School Boards Association, and in 2002 equally honored to be elected county commissioner of Santa Fe County. Since that time I have been an active NACo member and served on both the Human Services and Education Committee and the NACo Methamphetamine Action Group.

Brown seeks second veep post■ BROWN from page 10


to Countiesto CountiesCost Control

Associates, Inc.Corporate Member

Location/HQ: 310 Bay Road, Queensbury, NY 12804

Primary Business: Assisting clients in reducing telecom and energy costs. Our Cost Recovery and Reduction Program™ focuses on reviewing bills for errors resulting in refunds and cost savings. Our Source Analysis Program™ assists clients in fi nding lower-cost sup-pliers of telecom and energy services.

CEO: Keith Laake

Name of NACo Representative: Keith Laake, president, and Jeff Schreck, regional account executive

Why we joined NACo: NACo provides a wonderful opportunity for us to get in front of counties to tell them about how Cost Control Associates can help counties reduce telecom and energy costs.

Through a joint bid by Dallas County, Texas and NACo, counties can now “piggyback” on this contract to save money on telecom and energy costs. Although our program just started earlier this year, NACo has been highly supportive of our efforts to work with counties. From introducing us to the right people to providing information to those counties that are interested, NACo has been a true partner with us in helping counties reduce costs.

What we can do for counties: NACo and Cost Control Associates make it possible for local governments to receive the help they need to receive refunds and cost savings from their telecom and energy suppliers.

This program is focused on reducing ever-increasing telecom and energy costs such as cellular, local and long distance, electricity and natural gas. Fees for this program are contingency-based and tied directly to the refunds and cost savings produced.

■ Tax Storm Watch #1Slash local business taxes by $3 billion – $6 billion per year

The federal government expects to raise more than $3.1 billion over the next decade by passing H.R. 1856, legislation that would prevent state and local governments from imposing nearly any tax on out-of-state business. It would also create a slew of loopholes exempting certain industries, encouraging aggressive tax planning — leading to the creation of more “nowhere income.”

Specifi cally, the bill would allow a company to market and deliver services from a location outside the state without being subject to local taxes; it would allow corpora-tions to avoid tax through the use of even wholly owned subsidiaries and would exempt presence in the state for certain activities including lobbying and gathering news.

The Congressional Budget Offi ce estimates this would cost state and local governments about 4.5 percent of their revenues from corporate income taxes, franchise taxes and license fees, or more than $3 billion annually by the end of the decade.

The National Governors’ Asso-ciation estimates it could cost more than 11 percent of revenues, or $6 billion annually. The states that will likely be hardest hit are California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Washington.

For the federal government, this is $3.1 billion in free money — be-cause the tough decisions on paying for this tax cut by raising other taxes

or cutting county programs will be made by county offi cials, not mem-bers of the House Judiciary Commit-tee, who approved this bill by voice vote July 17.

■ Tax Storm Watch #2 Slash taxes on pipeline property by 50 percent

H.R. 1369, also approved on a voice vote of the House Judiciary Committee, would require states and local governments to provide the same favorable tax treatment to pipeline property as to airlines and railroads — in many cases slashing current taxes in half.

This storm will have its most devastating effects on the counties and parishes still reeling from Hur-ricanes Katrina and Rita — Louisiana and Mississippi. But those states are not alone. Montana estimates that the annual decrease in property taxes will be $24 million. Ohio puts the fi gure at $46 million. Other states that may be affected include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Nebras-ka, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.

The Congressional Budget Of-fi ce estimates this legislation would cost state and local governments $250 million per year. Meanwhile, the federal government would gain a windfall of $45 million in 2007, and as much as $371 million over the next decade.

■ Tax Storm Watch #3 Moratorium on cell phone taxes

The pending rewrite of the Tele-communications Act tramples local

governments, stripping counties of cable franchising authority among other provisions. The version pend-ing in the Senate would also broaden and make permanent the Internet Ac-cess Tax Moratorium.

However, the real show-stopping tax preemption is an amendment ad-opted 21–1 by the Senate Commerce Committee that would impose a three-year moratorium on new “dis-criminatory” state or local wireless telephone taxes — “discriminatory” being defi ned as in excess of gener-ally applicable business taxes, even if wireline telephone service is taxed at a higher rate.

No cost estimate is available on this amendment because the Senate Commerce Committee has not yet fi led a written report. It is diffi cult to predict taxes that a state or local government might have imposed in the future. However, this preemption would effectively gut efforts in many states to provide a level playing fi eld among telecommunications provid-ers without a major tax cut.

This is just a sampling of the proposals circulating in Washington, D.C. to cut taxes, increase spending and balance the federal budget on the backs of state and local governments. Each of these mandates threatens signifi cant revenue losses. Taken together, their combined impact could decimate county fi nances and upset a lot of voters — anger that will presumably be directed at the county offi cials who had to choose between draconian spending cuts, massive tax increases or a bit of both, not at the federal representatives in Congress who made the mess in the fi rst place.

This does not include mandates the federal government has already passed but have yet to take effect, such as a recent mandate — passed in May without a hearing, without debate and without prior consultation with state or local offi cials — that will require states and many larger counties to withhold 3 percent of nearly every check or credit card payment to a county contractor or vendor against federal income taxes.

Santa Clara County, Calif. of-fi cials have estimated that comply-ing with this new requirement will cost their county, alone, $2.2 million when the law takes effect in 2011. Meanwhile, advanced withholding payments received that year will provide a $7 billion windfall to the federal treasury.

It also does not include the fa-miliar litany of proposed spending cuts, totaling billions of dollars to states and local governments. Under pressure to reduce the defi cit while providing new spending in other areas of the budget, Congress is

continuing to chip away at grants to state and local governments.

Sunset commissionMany county officials would

accept federal spending cuts if they were accompanied by a correspond-ing reduction in federal mandates and grant conditions. However, Congress does not adjust mandates and grant conditions as part of the annual exercise of reallocating funds among line items in the annual federal budget. That would require a much more in-depth examination of each program.

Federal programs are typically given an in-depth review only in a periodic reauthorization. Two bills approved by the House Committee on Government Reform would establish commissions charged with conduct-ing a periodic, intensive review of every federal agency and program (H.R. 5766 and H.R. 3282).

Comprehensive budget process reform legislation introduced by

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) would create separate commissions to ensure the solvency of entitlement programs and to review other federal agencies and programs.

However, there is no guarantee — or even stated intent — that this process would result in fewer man-dates or grant conditions on state and local governments. Only H.R. 3282 would include the following among the criteria by which federal programs would be judged:

• the promptness and effective-ness with which the agency seeks public input and input from state and local governments on the effi ciency and effectiveness of the performance of the functions of the agency

• the extent to which the agency has coordinated with state and local governments in performing the func-tions of the agency, and

• the potential effects of abolishing the agency on state and local governments.

Counties face tax challenges passed by federal legislation■ TAX STORM from page 1

Headline Update: Every two weeks, we’ll e-mail a short synopsis of the top stories in

County News. Pick your news, click the link and read the story.

Web Site Update: Every two weeks, we’ll e-mail the main page from

www.countynews.org. If you don’t always remember to visit the Web site, why not let us bring the Web site to you?

PDF Delivery:Every two weeks, we’ll send you the entire County News, every page, every picture, in a convenient PDF fi le. Save each issue on disk and

read them when you fi nd time. To sign up for any of these services, go to www.countynews.org/Online_Form.cfm, fi ll out the form, and answer a few questions.

There is no charge for this service.

Visit us at www.countynews.orgONLINE

Get the News on Your Desktop!


NACO ON THE MOVENACO ON THE MOVE

■ In the News• NACo’s press conference announcing the release of two new

meth surveys received widespread media attention. An article by the Associated Press ran in The New York Times, USA Today, CBS News, ABC News, MSNBC, Fox News, Forbes magazine, the Chicago Sun-Times and Yahoo! The surveys also received coverage from Gannett News Service, the USA Today Web site, McClatchy News Service, The Washington Times, the Washington Examiner, Stephens Media Group, NBC and Cybercast News Service.

• President Bill Hansell spoke to the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette for a July 19 article entitled “Offi cials: Meth laws help, but crime up.” Hansell spoke about laws that restrict the sale of pills that can be used to make meth.

• The Gannett News Service’s July 17 article “Local anti-meth laws reducing crime and number of illegal labs” featured a quote from Joe Dunn, associate legislative director.

• Jacqueline Byers, director of research, was quoted in a July 14 Associated Press article on sex offenders in hurricane shelters.

■ NACo Offi cers and County Offi cials• President Bill Hansell attended his last state association meetings

before the Annual Conference, and the end of his term. He traveled to the Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma Summer Conference in Oklahoma County/City, July 18–19, and to the County Commissioners Association of West Virginia Annual Meeting in Cabell County (Huntington), July 29 – Aug. 1.

■ NACo Staff• Bill Cramer has joined the NACo staff as

the new NACo marketing director. Bill has 23 years of corporate and association experience do-ing marketing, communications, public relations and government relations. He comes to NACo from LaserGrade of Miami Shores, Fla., where he was director of marketing communications and public relations. in addition to running his own

marketing communications business, Cramer has worked for the Chauncey Group International, a subsidiary of the Educational Test-ing Service; the National Industries for the Blind; and the National Governors Association.

• Rocky Lopes has joined the Community Services Division/County Services Department as the project manager for Homeland Security grants. Lopes worked for a number of years with the American Red Cross and has worked with di-saster and emergency preparedness in a number

of ways. • Lisa Cole, director of enter-

prise services, represented NACo at the Deferred Compensation Advisory Committee of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, at the Nationwide Retirement Solutions headquarters in Franklin County (Dublin), Ohio July 17–18. The meeting provided committee members with a personal perspective of the NACo deferred com-

pensation program that is endorsed by their state association and administered by Nationwide.

■ Up and Coming• Emily Landsman, membership coordinator, will attend the As-

sociation of Arkansas Counties Annual Conference in Washington County (Springdale), Aug. 9–11, to discuss the benefi ts of NACo membership.

• Andrew Goldschmidt, membership/marketing director, will be traveling to the Maryland Association of Counties Annual Summer Conference in Worcester County (Ocean City), Aug. 16–19, to exhibit on behalf of NACo membership recruitment and retention.

(On the Move is compiled by Dan Miller, staff writer, and Allison Mall, editorial assistant.)

Bill Cramer

Rocky Lopes

“well” because many of those are presumed to be infl ating their level of English profi ciency.

Several members expressed confi dence that they could have amended the law by delaying the vote, but nervousness over the im-pact of an extended battle over the Voting Rights Act leading into an election year prevailed. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) summed up the prevailing sentiment in a public state-ment indicating that “everyone rec-ognizes the inevitability of passage of the extension and sees no benefi t to delaying it,” Cornyn said. “In fact,

there’s some benefi t for doing it so it doesn’t become a weapon during the election campaigns.”

NACo applauds passage of this legislation, which is consistent with NACo policy and was designated a key legislative priority for 2006 by the NACo Board of Directors. NACo had sought amendments to include additional funding for adult English language education and to improve the availability of census data to assist counties in complying with the requirements of Section 203. However, both of these goals can be accomplished outside of re-authorization, and NACo will seek opportunities to do so.

Congress passes NACo-backed voting law■ VOTING from page 2

has even used sales tax holidays to promote items such as energy-ef-ficient appliances and hurricane preparedness items.

Last year, 11 states and the District of Columbia had sales tax holidays.

When Alabama Gov. Bob Riley signed his state’s law at a Target store in Montgomery, he emphasized the savings to working families as well as the economic impact.

“Not only does it help families stretch their budgets further, it also helps our economy,” he said. “It will bring more consumers into Alabama businesses and that creates and sus-tains good jobs.”

The state expects consumers to save $3.3 million annually from the holiday, which will fall on the fi rst weekend of August.

Sales tax holiday experiencing resurgenceClay County, Mo. chose not to

participate in the state’s holiday last year but decided to go with it this year after the press the event received.

“Ultimately, [we] just recognized that our citizens are hard-working tax payers and they deserved this holi-day,” said Interim County Administra-tor Alexa Barton. “We don’t have any expectations at this time, but we are encouraged by last year’s event.”

Still, Barton says, she hopes the holiday will serve as an economic stimulus and increase consumer traffi c benefi t for county retailers.

Nelson County, Va. is participating in the state’s fi rst sales tax holiday which applies to clothing, school supplies and footwear.

“It’ll be good for consumers and retailers in Virginia,” said Joel Da-vison, public relations manager for Nelson County.

The county involved local retailers and members of the local Chamber of Commerce to help form the county’s guidelines and list of frequently asked questions. Now, the county is work-ing to inform the public on when the holiday is and what items will be exempt from sales tax.

“We’re really working the media hard, especially in areas where the re-tailers don’t have that much reach,” Davison said.

One quirk of Virginia’s sales tax is the opportunity for retailers to absorb the sales tax on non-exempt items. Retailers can pay the sales tax on some items that aren’t included.

Davison said the state of Virginia expects to miss out on $3.6 million in sales tax over the holiday, which passed the state’s General Assembly unanimously.

BY DAN MILLER

STAFF WRITER

An economic upswing is resulting in tax savings for shoppers across the country.

According to the Federation of Tax Administrators (FTA), sales tax holi-days are experiencing a “renaissance” after having fallen out of favor due to recent years’ economic downturn.

The idea originated in New York in 1997, according to the FTA, in an effort to provide relief to taxpayers. The holidays normally fall in August so that families can shop for back-to-school items such as clothing, books and computer equipment.

Sales tax holidays are different from state to state and can vary based on qualifying items, price restrictions and duration of the holiday. Florida

Lisa Cole

CHANCESARE...

AS A LEADER OF YOUR COUNTY ...

YOU’RE ALWAYS ON THE LOOK-OUT FOR WAYS TO HELP FUND YOUR COMMUNITY’S PROGRAMS.

GrantsClearinghouse

National Association of Counties

Look no further ...

www.naco.org


RESEARCH NEWSRESEARCH NEWS

Across the country, citizens and county government offi cials are evaluating the effi ciency and success of their current structures, always looking at ways in which local government can improve upon constituent service. Over the past few months, movements to alter the structure of the county in several jurisdictions have generally failed, but many more are still in discussion.

One major initiative has devel-oped in Miami-Dade County, where the county mayor has placed on the ballot an amendment that would give the mayor’s offi ce much more power than it already has. The amendment would give the mayor the power to hire and fi re both the county man-ager and department heads, each of whom now serve at the pleasure of the County Commission.

A lawsuit was fi led challenging the mayor’s proposal, claiming that it was unconstitutional because it took away the commission’s des-ignation as the governing body. However, the appeals courts have ruled that the amendment is con-stitutional as it is merely a shift of administrative duties and does not

interfere with the commission’s du-ties as a governing body.

The referendum has caused a major rift between the mayor and the commission, which opposes the amendment, and its supporters hope to place it on the ballot in Sep-tember during Florida’s primary, or November.

County managers have also been at the center of other proposals recent-ly. Otsego County, N.Y. recently hired a consultant to study the possibility of hiring a professional manager for the county. According to reports, the county has been discussing the possibility of hiring a manager for years. While that decision has yet to take place, the idea of hiring a full-time manager for Erie County, Pa. was recently rejected.

The county’s Charter Revision Committee made the suggestion, but was met with strong opposition from the County Legislature, as the plan would transfer powers from the county executive to the manager, and the legislature believed that it would be too expensive to fund both positions. However, supporters of the Erie County measure have not given up. While the committee’s

recommendation was voted down and will not appear on the ballot, supporters have offered a resolu-tion that would require the deputy county executive to basically serve as manager, requiring the requisite training and expertise in govern-ment management. The vote on that resolution was scheduled for late this month.

County Board sizeThe size of the county boards

has also become an issue in many counties, especially in Wisconsin. Winnebago County is making plans to study the size of its board for the third time since 1990. The board cur-rently has 38 supervisors, a number which has sparked debate over recent years.

Fond du Lac County has an Ad Hoc Committee on County Board Size, which voted to table the issue of downsizing the board until the 2010 Census. Many members view the board as being very effi cient, despite its 36 commissioners. But that issue will probably be left up to the citizens, since enough signatures were collected for the issue to become a referendum, possibly in November. The referendum, if passed, will de-crease the Board from 36 to 18.

The Board of Waukesha County, will be restructured in April 2008, downsized from 35 members to 25. Elections will be pitting incumbents against each other, making for an unusual situation. Downsizing ad-vocates there argued that it would save the county money and provide for more effi ciency, but opponents claimed that oversight of county programs would be hurt and the workload of the supervisors, a part-time position with limited salaries, would increase.

ConsolidationOf course, local governments are

also looking at and studying possible consolidation. The idea has been put forth in Adams County, Miss. to combine with the city of Natchez, its only municipality. The main challenge faced by supporters of consolidation is that Mississippi’s state constitution does not allow for consolidation; they would need a state constitutional amendment. A movement to merge the governments of Washoe County, Nev. and its municipalities of Reno and Sparks was defeated by the county commissioners. The movement origi-nated in Reno, but was opposed by the City Council of Sparks.

Discussions about a possible consolidation have gotten off to a

County Government Structure Always an Issuerocky start in Allen County, Ind. The city of Fort Wayne and the county can’t even agree on the structure of the committee that would study the possibility of consolidation.

Additionally, at a recent meeting with county residents, reports are that the county commissioners faced hostile criticism from constituents opposed to consolidation.

It’s apparent that changing

government structures is never easy, and any change is met with opposition, both public and political. But it seems that county governments are amenable to most suggestions that might make them more effi cient and responsive to county citizens.

(Research News was written by Joseph Hansen, research associate.)

Word Search

Oregon Counties

Created by Allison Mall

I M P U B M C M R O K L Z Q P H T O D E X Q N A T N A S B A N V C G I S U O B T K Z M M N L W K K O I I H W Q A A N J Q S V S Y D Z H H A J E O T L P J L L W Q C I I T Z G J U Y E K W R C S L K K G M O R R O W I A I V T X U H J O H D I G U M Y H J M F L E D L K C Q R R J S L M G O K L A M A T H I N S X C T P L R O C F L D L D E E H M Q P C H K E E C J P F B M O U A H B D H G E E O E E A R J Z M P B A R V E W W Y W Q Z Y G R C A V I S S B A D G N U W H R N H N E X M M S S S G V P F I R D M J R W Y F R N K A Y Q I C A M N N K S I I J D A D Y S R T N U J G T B K W F O E E W N O I N U M A L C F A L L I T A M U S N M W F B N S X H V R F K O D O N Z V A V K I I A O I B N S X O B O M F Q X T U A R Y C W U V L X E A X O T R O H Q Z Y S B B F S A U P I H R R F K L A P B K R Z Y W H H P K J S K M G Q L H L Q A F Y I N C G W X H B P K A L A U B X A S M C I L T L E N A G F F T X W Q O K Q O G F X F E B V M U L M G K A N B M K Q A U E R Y Y D V S J L L I H M A Y W Y

BAKERCLATSOPCOOSCROOKDOUGLASGILLIAMHARNEY

JACKSONKLAMATHLINCOLNLINNMALHEURMARIONMORROW

SHERMANUMATILLAUNIONWALLOWAWASCOYAMHILL

■ Congratulations to 2006 Digital Counties Award Winners

County governments are us-ing information technology with greater savvy each year, accord-ing to the 2006 Digital Coun-ties Survey, an annual study by NACo and the Center for Digital Government. To recognize their

hard work and innovation, the survey’s top digital counties will be honored at a national awards ceremony Aug. 7 , which will coincide with NACo’s Annual Conference in Cook County, Ill.

The fi rst place winners in their population categories are:• Orange County, Fla. (500,000+)• Richland County, S.C. (250,000 –499,999)• Roanoke County, Va. (150,000 –249,999)• Charles County, Md. (fewer than 150,000)For a list of all winners, go to www.centerdigitalgov.com.

■ Movie Locales Listed on Illinois State Web SiteWayne’s World, High Fidelity and Batman Begins are among the

movies that have fi lmed in Illinois, and a new Web site shows users exactly where they were shot in an effort to boost tourism. Visit the site at www.onscreenillinois.com to see the movies listed and view movie-based trip itineraries. Having movies made in Illinois is a priority for Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

■ Burlington County Site Features Popular Disaster Guide

The Burlington County, N.J. Web site has added PDF and .doc versions of its 32-page guide “Preparing for Disaster in Burlington County” due to pop-ular demand. To see the guide visit the county’s Web site at www.co.burlington.nj.us.

■ Placer County Launches Network of Care Web SitePlacer County, Calif. has launched a Web site that provides resources

for individuals within the county who are looking for information on mental health services, laws, community resources and related news. The Web site includes links to substance abuse support groups, art therapy services and much more. Visit the site at http://placer.networkofcare.org and click on “Placer County.”

(Web Watch is compiled by Dan Miller, staff writer. If you have an item you would like featured, please e-mail it to him at [email protected].)


Model Model Programs ... Programs ...

Volunteer aides to motorists let police focus on fi ghting crime

BY CHARLES TAYLOR

SENIOR STAFF WRITER

What do hitting a thumbtack with a sledgehammer and sending a highly trained police offi cer to help a stranded motorist have in common?

Both are overkill.Five years ago, police in Chester-

fi eld County, Va. decided the right tool to help police offi cers focus on more important duties – and engage residents with the depart-ment – was to create a Motorist Assistance Team (MAT). Today, about a dozen civilian volunteers are patrolling local roads, assisting with breakdowns and cars needing a jump, and providing traffi c control at accident and crime scenes.

The program allows the police to deploy its resources more stra-tegically, said police Lt. Lorrie Smith, who supervises the pro-gram. “Basically what they do is

Model Programs ...

free up our offi cers to go on more urgent calls,” she explained. “It’s tremendous amount of money that they’re saving us.”

In its fi rst year, start-up costs were about $8,400 per vehicle to convert three decommissioned po-lice cars, including swapping out blue fl ashing lights for amber ones and other modifi cations — and for providing communications equip-ment and supplies, including fl ares, traffi c cones, gas cans and map books. Uniforms, radio holsters and other personal items ran about $750 for each volunteer.

As for savings, valuing a sworn offi cer’s time at $17 per hour, the county estimated that in 2004 it saved $43,469 by employing vol-unteers who worked 2,557 hours that year.

MAT volunteers cruise the county’s “busiest roads” in a specially marked vehicles, mainly

said Tom Hoekstra, 67, a retired former engineer with AT&T and Bell Laboratories in New Jersey. “You can just see the expression on people’s faces as you pull up. They’re in a stressful situation and to see somebody come up who looks like they may be able to help them …You can’t describe it.”

Hoekstra and the other volun-teers commit to working about 16 hours per month, mainly Monday through Friday. In June, seven volunteers worked about 229 hours, drove 2,834 miles, assisted 52 motorists and helped at 34 ac-cident scenes, according to Police Department fi gures.

To prepare for the job, prospec-tive MAT team members receive about 40 hours of classroom and on-road training, including defen-sive driving, fi rst aid and radio operation. They are screened in a panel interview, administered personality and driving tests, and undergo an in-depth background investigation.

Trainees are also taught what to do if they encounter a potentially dangerous situation: call the police. “When we’ve had them run up on domestics and stuff like that, they get on the radio and call,” Smith said.

The police department recruits for the program through its three-times-a-year Citizens Academy — which offers Chesterfi eld County residents opportunities to learn about police practices, procedures and volunteer opportunities. Hoek-stra and a new recruit, 66-year-old Ralph Burton, read about it in a local newspaper.

While the county undoubtedly benefi ts, both men say the rewards to them can’t be measured. Burton had just fi nished a ride-along with Hoekstra when he talked with a reporter. He is motivated by “a desire to want to give back, to help others.”

Added Hoekstra, “I look forward to getting up at 4:45 on Tuesday morning, marking on the radio at 6 o’clock and usually don’t fi nish up and get home until about 5:30. I could go longer if my old body could take it.”

(Model Programs highlights Achievement Award-winning pro-grams. For more information on this and other NACo Achievement Award winners, visit NACo’s Web site, www.naco.org, and click on “Model County Programs” in the Resource Library.)

Caddo Parish, La.What's In a Seal?

Caddo Parish offi cially adopted this seal in 2001, replacing the tra-ditional round governmental seal which had been used for years.

On the seal are 11 stars — rep-resenting 11 townships in Caddo Parish; an oil derrick — represent-ing the historical signifi cance of oil in the parish; an arrowhead — representing the Caddo Indi-ans, the original inhabitants and namesake of the parish; and the Red River — the lifeblood of Caddo Parish, and an important part of the economy today.

TownshipsThe townships in Caddo Par-

ish are Belcher, Blanchard, Gil-liam, Greenwood, Hosston, Ida, Mooringsport, Oil City, Rodessa, Shreveport and Vivian.

The oil derrickNatural gas was discovered in

Shreveport in 1870 while drilling for water for the Shreveport Ice Factory. A night watchman struck a match to see if the wind he heard blowing from the site would blow it out, but it ignited. The gas was used to light the ice factory and is the state’s fi rst documented use of natural gas.

In 1902, Ellison M. Adger

drilled a water well along Cotton-wood Bayou for his livestock, but at 400 ft. he found soured water. After sending soil samples to the U.S. Geological Survey, Adger learned that if he drilled deeper, to 1,000 ft., he might hit oil or gas. However, Adger was not interested — but in 1907, a group of planters in the Belcher area organized the Dixie Oil, Gas and Pipeline Co., and their fi rst well was near where Adger had drilled.

The next well in the company ran wild, but supplied gas for Dixie and Blanchard after it was capped. The fi rst natural gas compressor in the world was located at Rodessa. By 1910, the Caddo Parish oil fi elds produced 75 percent of Louisiana’s oil, and by 1911 derricks were ev-erywhere.

The arrowheadIn 1835 the Caddo Indians ceded

their land to the U.S., and the area was opened up for settlement. With-in three years, the area had enough people to create another parish. Thus, Caddo Parish was created on Jan. 18, 1838. The name, sug-gested by legislature member W. H. Sparke, refers to the Caddo Indians. The boundaries of the new parish were not set until 1841.

The river The Red River is still a vital

part of Caddo Parish’s economy. It provides a home to fi ve riverboat casinos in Caddo Parish and neigh-boring Bossier Parish. In addition, the Red River allows industrial ac-cess to the Caddo-Bossier Port, and is a favored waterway for fi shing and boating activities.

The Red River begins in eastern New Mexico, traveling east along the southern parts of Oklahoma and the northern areas of Texas before it heads southwest through Arkansas.

From Arkansas, the river turns south and runs between Shreveport and Bossier City, La. From there, the river serves as a border for Red River, Winn,

Natchitoches, Grant, Rapides Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia and Pointe Coupee parishes before it links up with the Old River and fi nally fl ows into the Mississippi River itself.

As the river worms its way through the land, it picks up al-luvial soil, which contains iron oxide, the material responsible for the reddish color of the water as well as its name.

The river was heavily traf-fi cked during the steamboat days of the early and mid-1800s. Men established their businesses on the banks of the river, which served as a port and was essential for import-ing and exporting goods.

By 1881, 20 steamers ran between Shreveport and New Orleans with cargoes of beeswax, wool, grain, cottonseed oil, tallow, hay, cotton, livestock and hides.

Caddo Parish is a largely popu-lated parish, ranking fourth in the state of Louisiana with 252,161 residents. The parish encom-passes 889 square miles, covering 568,960 acres of land.

(If you would like your county’s seal featured, please contact Al-lison Mall at [email protected] or 202/942-4256.)

during rush hours. They respond to situations they encounter or are dispatched to others via their police

radios, sometimes working in tan-dem with police offi cers.

“It’s the best job I’ve ever had,”

Photo courtesy of Chesterfi eld County, Va.

Volunteers for Chesterfi eld County, Va.’s Motorist Assistance Team provide roadside assistance to a stranded motorist – freeing police to respond to more urgent calls.


companies fi lm deputies at work as well as cadets trying to make the cut.

The shows, tentatively called “The Assignment” and “The Academy” will not be allowed to fi lm in jails and must destroy all unused footage.

Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky ex-pressed concern that the fi lm crews would interfere with the deputies’ responsibilities.

“No Dick, Tom or Harry can come in there and get in the way,” Yaroslavsky said. “Either a detective is out there trying to solve a crime, or he’s trying to look pretty for a reality show.”

HAWAIIThe MAUI COUNTY Council

is planning on re-examining the issue of light pollution, in light of languishing lighting standards over the past six years, according to Maui News.

A proposal to set outdoor light-ing standards fi rst came up in 2000 and has since stalled repeatedly. The standards focus on low-pressure so-dium light fi xtures, which are gentle on the environment but make it dif-fi cult for people to see colors.

The University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy’s Mike Maberry told Maui News that bright lights pollute the night sky.

“It’s, of course, getting worse ev-ery day,” he said. “Every single new house that goes in, every business, every streetlight, it gets worse.”

Light pollution makes it hard to view the night sky, as well as affect-ing native wildlife which use starlight for navigation.

ILLINOISMADISON COUNTY is using

the last of its tobacco settlement interest money to buy new radios for its Sheriff’s Department.

The radios, which are more than 30 years old, is a patchwork mixture of equipment, Sheriff Robert Hertz told The Edwardsville Intelligencer. The new Motorola system will cost nearly $2.2 million.

The money is the result of a wind-fall $17.7 million in interest from a class action lawsuit against tobacco company Phillip Morris.

INDIANA• In an effort to eschew competi-

tion and work together, four coun-ties have decided to unite into a new economic development coalition to attract businesses and jobs to the re-gion.

POSEY, VANDERBURGH, GIBSON and WARRICK counties have formed the Economic Develop-ment Coalition of Southwest Indiana,

to build four modular homes to treat homeless individuals with tuberculosis.

Previously, the county treated them at Yuma Regional Medical Center for lack of another acceptable location. Offi cials told the Associated Press that while hospital rooms could cost about $1,000 a day, the homes would cost about $413,000 to construct.

Health Department Director Becky Brooks told the AP that it wasn’t cost effective to keep the patients in hos-pitals for weeks or months when they don’t need such intensive care.

CALIFORNIASheriff’s deputies in LOS AN-

GELES COUNTY will be hitting the small screen as part of two proposed reality television shows, according to the Associated Press.

The county’s Board of Supervisors voted 3-1 to let two production

It will cost between $10 and $12 to send each machine to Africa.

MARYLANDBALTIMORE COUNTY has a

new sibling, and she lives in Taiwan. China’s Taipei County has estab-lished a sister county relationship with the Maryland county – designed to foster closer trade, economic and cultural exchanges between the two, the Taipei Times reported.

Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith and Taipei County Com-missioner Chou Hsi-wei signed the agreement earlier this month at a ceremony in Baltimore County.

Taipei County, with a population of 3.7 million, is more than four times larger than Baltimore County, which has 800,000 residents.

MICHIGANINGHAM COUNTY pulled

3.5 million images from its Web site in early June in order to protect the Social Security numbers that are on some of the documents. The register of deeds was concerned about the threat of identity theft.

Only a small portion of the docu-ments may contain the information, but Register of Deeds Paula Johnson wanted to protect everyone from ex-posure, according to the Michigan Association of Counties.

NEWS FROM THE NATION'S COUNTIESNEWS FROM THE NATION'S COUNTIES

■ See NEWS FROM on page 17

ARIZONA• Sheriff Bill Pribil is inviting

the general public to “Spend Some Time in Jail” when he hosts several open houses at the COCONINO COUNTY Jail and Page Holding Facility over the next few months.

Visitors will have the opportunity to tour the jail, learn about the facility and fi nd out more about the upcoming jail district sales tax referendum. The open houses will provide information about how the county proposes to use additional sales tax revenue to main-tain community safety throughout the county and implement a new drug and alcohol treatment program.

• Supervisors in YUMA COUNTY are considering a proposal

which is a partnership of the public and private sectors.

Sally Rideout Lambert, co-chair of the new coalition along with Evans-ville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel, told Warrick Publishing Online that the counties have more power together than individually.

“To date, this area has not worked together, as a region,” she said. “We believe this coalition can change that. Leaders from each county will be exceedingly active, working in collaboration, building relationships and trust over what were previously identifi ed as boundaries.”

The coalition is the result of a year-long formation process. It will have a 61-member board of directors.

• A Ball State University instruc-tor, the DELAWARE COUNTY clerk and Indiana’s secretary of state have teamed up to help rescue nearly 1,000 punch-card voting machines from the landfi ll.

According to The Star Press, the voting machines will be sent to Benin in West Africa.

The machines are currently being stored in the basement of the Dela-ware County Building. Madison and Kosciusko counties have also con-tributed obsolete voting machines to the cause.

Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita said the machines being sent to Benin are not bad machines, but the state is upgrading.

VIRGINIAIn preparation for next year’s Jamestown quadricentennial, JAMES

CITY COUNTY offi cials recently presented a check for $500,000 to the Jamestown 2007 organization, the main state agency planning events for Jamestown’s 400th anniversary. The county is contributing $250,000 this fi scal year and $250,000 in the next fi scal year.

“As the host locality for the main event, America’s Anniversary Weekend, its important for us to show our support for the event…,” said Bruce Goodson, chairman of the county’s Board of Supervisors. “James City County is proud to be the place where the roots of this country were founded and we look forward to sharing this legacy with visitors from around the world.”

Colonized in 1607, Jamestown is the site of the fi rst permanent English settlement in the “New World.”

Is your county dissatisfi ed with its 2005 Population Estimate?

Is a challenge too complicated for your staff ?

NACo’s Research Division wants to hear from you!!

Contact Jacqueline Byers, Director of Research at

202/942-4285 or [email protected]

NOT HAPPY NOT HAPPY WITH YOUR WITH YOUR CENSUS CENSUS NUMBERS?NUMBERS?

James City County Board Chairman Bruce Goodson and Jamestown 2007 Executive Director Jeanne Zeidler, fl anked by costumed interpreters at James-town Settlement.


NOTICESNOTICES

■ Publications• EPA has produced the Excessive Heat Events Guidebook, because heat

is the number one weather-related killer in the U.S. The guidebook is designed to help offi cials plan for and respond to

excessive heat events. It highlights best practices that have been employedto save lives during heat waves in different urban areas andprovides a menu of options that offi cials can use to respond to theseevents in their communities. The guidebook and “in-brief” compan-ion piece can both be downloaded at http://epa.gov/heatisland/about/heatguidebook.html.

• The Commerce Department has issued a report on recycling electronic products called Recycling Technology Products: An Overview of E-Waste Policy Issues. The report highlights diverse issues facing manufacturers, retailers, recyclers, environmental organizations and others as they adopt policies and practices to manage discarded electronics. The report also identi-fi es possible areas of consensus among industry and other stakeholders on managing discarded electronics. The report, an executive summary and the under secretary’s remarks will be available on www.technology.gov.

■ EventsCome hear the “Rhythms of the Land” at the 19th National Land Conser-

vation Conference: Rally 2006, to be held in Davidson County (Nashville) Oct.12–15. There will be more than 140 workshops, 36 seminars and 12 fi eld trips, and highlights of this year’s rally include the new Standards and Practices Curriculum and plenary speeches by noted authors Bill McKibben and Janisse Ray, and Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.). Visit www.lta.org for conference details and to register online. For more information, please call 202/638-4725 or e-mail [email protected].

■ WebcastThe U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) will hold an upcoming webcast

and satellite broadcast addressing methamphetamine use in the nation’s communities. Featuring panel of experts, the free, interactive broadcast will explore the dangers of meth and how community policing and partnerships can support enforcement and prevention efforts.

Panelists include experts from federal and local law enforcement agen-cies, and community organizations. Viewers can watch the program live from their computers, submit e-mail questions to the panel and receive answers immediately. The satellite broadcast will enable organizations with downlink capabilities to view the program for large audiences in a “Town Hall Meeting” setting and host post-program discussions.

It will take place Aug. 22, from 2–3 p.m. EDT. Go to www.DOJConnect.com.

(If you have an event or publication or conference that you would like to be featured in Notices, please e-mail it to [email protected].)

FINANCIAL SERVICES NEWSFINANCIAL SERVICES NEWS

In the normal course of the day, most of us don’t think much about the environmental impacts of prod-ucts we depend upon. We walk on carpet, wood and tile. We depend upon cleaning crews to keep our work environment hygienic. We require good lighting to perform our work and to create a safe en-vironment in our offi ces, parking lots and homes. But what are the environmental consequences of the products we select for each of these areas of our workplace?

Let’s take a look at carpeting and other fl ooring alternatives. In recent years the carpet industry has been focused on recycling, which often overlooks the larger effects of manufacturing operations on the environment.

Public agencies need to seek environmental excellence from entryway systems to carpet tiles through continuing research. For example, PVC-free tiles, which were introduced by Milliken — the U.S. Communities fl ooring provider — in 1986, remain safe for renewal or recycling.

One outcome of research is a bio-based, adhesive-free installation sys-tem, which eliminates concerns about volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The lack of glue also reduces instal-lation time.

With any green project, selecting products that meet third-party certi-fi cation makes it easier to create a safer and healthier workplace.

Milliken, offers carpet products that are rated as environmentally preferable products (EPP) and meet the Carpet and Rug Institute’s (CRI) Green Label Plus Certifi cation for Indoor Air Quality (CA 01350 equivalent).

In addition, Milliken’s modular carpets with ES backing contribute the maximum allowable points for carpet in LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System® for NC (New Construction), CI (Com-mercial Interiors) projects and EB (Existing Building) operations.

Janitorial suppliesWhen it comes to janitorial sup-

plies, a number of factors come

into play. The composition of the chemicals used to clean our build-ings is a key consideration. Is the chemical biodegradable? Does it give off volatile fumes? Does the application process require special-ized equipment or safety clothing? Does the product provide a minimum amount of chemical when diluted with water? What damage does the chemical cause to the fl ooring, por-celain, paint or furniture? Reputable janitorial supply companies will do a free analysis of these and other envi-ronmental factors for the client.

ZEP, the janitorial supply fi rm selected by the U.S. Communities program, offers a series of envi-ronmentally sensitive products to public agencies. Soy-based clean-ers and Green Seal® certifi ed prod-ucts are now available through the U.S. Communities contract. These products include fl oor fi nish strip-pers, fl oor fi nishers, concentrated glass cleaner, neutral fl oor cleaner, degreasers and deoderizers.

Electrical suppliesOn the electrical front, one of the

Flooring, Janitorial, Electrical Supplies — the Environmental Story

NEW HAMPSHIREThe NEW HAMPSHIRE ASSO-

CIATION OF COUNTIES has fi led a right-to-know request to get fi gures the state’s health and human services commissioner used to lower payments to counties for Medicaid patients in county nursing homes.

Cathy Ann Stacey, president of NHAC, said a promised 4-percent increase has been cut to 2 percent, meaning a loss of approximately $4 million to the nursing homes.

“This is a time-sensitive, serious issue for the county nursing homes and county taxpayers,” Stacey wrote in a letter to Commissioner John Stephen.

HHS says that even with the de-crease, counties will be getting more money than ever, because of a new tax on nursing home beds that is funneled back to the care providers.

NEW MEXICOThe DONA ANA COUNTY

Sheriff’s Department is among four law enforcement agencies sharing New Mexico’s fi rst annual Drunk-buster awards – for reducing the number of drunk-driving deaths in the county. Gov. Bill Richardson (D)

presented the award recently, citing a 74-percent decrease in alcohol-related fatalities from 2004 to 2005.

Statewide, drunk-driving deaths dropped 51 percent during the period. “We got good news,” Richardson told the Las Cruces Sun-News, “and the good news is that we’re starting to win the fi ght on DWI in New Mexico, and the best county is Dona Ana.” State police and two city police departments shared in the award.

PENNSYLVANIAIn a victory for Pennsylvania

counties, the state Supreme Court has upheld a lower court ruling that the state must reimburse counties that prosecute prisoners for crimes they commit in state prisons, according to the Morning Call.

The dispute stems from MONT-GOMERY COUNTY billing the state’s Corrections Department $65,000 for prosecuting 21 criminal cases involving inmates at a state prison in the county.

“This is kind of the period at the end of the sentence,” said Phil New-comer, Montgomery County’s chief of litigation. “We are very pleased not just for us, but the other counties in the Commonwealth as well. This decision will benefi t them as well.”

key factors that can save huge num-bers of dollars is the use of Energy Star® rated products. These products offer the best energy consumption ratings and provide the user with maximum energy effi ciency. For example, by simply changing ex-isting light bulbs, Graybar, U.S. Communities’ electrical products and telecom supplier, estimates savings of $5.40 per year per bulb replaced!

Additionally, public agencies should request a total cost of ownership analysis on everything from lighting fi xtures to ballasts to automatic switches to timers. A reputable electrical company will provide these services free. Often the return on investment is as short

as 18 months. Public agencies can explore tax-

exempt fi nancing for large retrofi t projects and achieve signifi cant, short- and long-term savings

The NACo-sponsored U.S. Com-munities Government Purchasing Alliance provides publicly solicited contracts for fl ooring, janitorial, and electrical products and services. The program is offered to all local and state public agencies at no cost. All of these contracts provide access to information on environmentally sensitive products. The suppliers will provide analytical services as well for any participating public agency.

(For more information, contact www.uscommunities.org.)

Nineteen other counties with state prisons joined Montgomery in the suit against the state, seeking reimbursement for court personnel costs, witness fees and court-appointed lawyers, among other things.

TENNESSEEA divided ROBERTSON

COUNTY Commission voted 12-11 not to pass an ethics bill required by state law. According to the Tennes-seean, opponents took issue with one section of the proposal that deals with nepotism; it states that “no appointed department head nor supervisor within the department can promote, super-vise or hire a family member.” The provision would be forward-looking, not retroactive.

Last January, the Tennessee Gen-eral Assembly passed the Comprehen-sive Governments Ethics Reform Act of 2006, which requires all local gov-ernments to adopt ethical standards. The proposed local resolution gives the county until June 30, 2007 to pass an ethics law.

(News From the Nation’s Counties is compiled by Charles Taylor and Dan Miller. If you have an item for News From, please e-mail [email protected] or [email protected].)

N.M. county receives Drunkbuster award■ NEWS FROM from page 16


JOB MARKET / CLASSIFIEDSJOB MARKET / CLASSIFIEDS

documents, permitting, agreements and related documentation.

The qualifi ed but suitable candidate will be a graduate from an accredited col-lege or university with a degree in civil engineering or related fi eld. Four years experience in roadway design, drainage design, land development, water man-agement permitting or other associated engineering activities, two of which will have been in a supervisory capacity, and possess a valid Florida driver’s license; will need to be registered as a Professional Engineer (PE) in the state of Florida or ability to obtain such within 6 months of assignment.

Please view the detail job description and salary range at www.marioncountyfl . org and fax in your application, resume, and other credentials to 352/438-2347/50 or apply in person or by mail at Marion County BCC, Human Resources Depart-ment, 601 SE 25th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471. EOE/ADA/VET.PREF.

■ DIRECTOR OF HUMAN SERVICES AND AGING — JOHNSON COUNTY, KAN.Salary: $77,126 – $111,425, DOQ.

Johnson County government, Kan. is seeking an experienced and inspired Director of the Human Services and Aging Department. This long-standing county department has an annual budget of $20 million, over 25 funding sources and will direct over 140 employees and over 2,000 volunteers in 15 locations. The mission of the department is to provide essential human services as a safety net, targeting older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income families, in order to support independence, dignity and self-suffi ciency in fi ve major service areas: accessibility, aging, housing services, information and community outreach centers. The director develops resources and innovative strat-egies to ensure the availability of vital programs and services to maximize their effectiveness and effi ciency; provides sound fi scal management of county tax dollars, grant and contract funds, and self-generated revenue; develops and maintains a benefi cial partnership within county government and through public and private sectors to build support for human services. The position requires a bachelor’s degree in public administration, business, human services or related fi eld; master’s degree preferred. Successful can-didate must have 8–10 years progressively responsible management experience in a human services organization.

Johnson County, Kan. is a vibrant residential and business community with a national reputation for excellence in educational, residential and cultural opportunities. It is a diverse and thriving urban county located in the southwestern Kansas City metropolitan area. With over 500,000 residents, it is the fastest growing county in Kansas (average annual growth rate 10,000 people). According to a recent study by American City Business Journals, Inc., it ranks seventh out of 3,141 counties for best quality of life, and sixth among most educated. EOE M/F/D. Interested applicants should submit cover letter

for the supervision and management of 11 department heads and ensuring that all agreements, leases and other contractual obligations of the commission are properly performed. The applicant must not have any confl icts of interest with Wakulla County.

Requirements include a minimum of fi ve years of management experience in local or regional government and a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, preferably in pub-lic administration or a related fi eld. Sub-stantial experience may be substituted for the educational requirement. Must have demonstrated experience with budget preparation/control, strategic planning, and a thorough knowledge of public ad-ministration principals and practices. The successful applicant will be responsible for the implementation and management of countywide policies.

Resumes must be received by Aug. 3. Send resume to Wakulla County Board of County Commissioners, P.O. Box 1263, Crawfordville, FL 32326; or fax to 850/926-0940. Wakulla County reserves the right to reject all applications. AA/EOE/M/F/H/Veterans Preference/Drug Free Workplace.

■ COUNTY MANAGER — GUILFORD COUNTY, N.C.

Salary: DOQ.Position number: 05690, closing date:

Aug.18. Reports to 11-member Board of Commissioners, serving as the chief administrator for 25 departments/2,700 employees. Guilford County includes two major cities (Greensboro and High Point), 8 additional incorporated towns, and large rural areas.

Minimum qualifi cations: Minimum bachelor’s degree in public administra-tion, political science, or related fi eld, plus fi ve years’ experience as city/county manager or deputy, OR equivalent combi-nation of education and/or other relevant experience.

Duties: Responsible for the manage-ment of the third largest North Carolina county, with an annual budget of over $525 million. Directs administration of all county offi ces and departments, under the general control of Board of Commissioners.

Send application, resume, sal-ary history and letter of interest marked “County Manager Search,” to Guilford County Human Resources, c/o Sharisse Fuller, Director, Human Resources, P.O. Box 3427, Greensboro, NC 27401. Tel: 336/641-3290. EEO/AA.

■ DESIGN ENGINEER — MARION COUNTY, FLA.Salary: $58,635 – $96,616, DOQ.

This is a professional technical posi-tion related to the engineering functions required by Marion County involving those areas of assigned function; such areas may include, but are not neces-sarily limited to, drainage, stormwater, fl ood control, design, utilities, traffi c, transportation, and roads. Performs fi eld review and inspection of assigned proj-ects and improvement plans submitted to the county for approval; coordinates and assists in the preparation of contract

external contacts. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing and prepare accurate records and reports. Ability to exercise initiative and independent judgment, organize and prioritize tasks, work on multiple priori-ties simultaneously and meet deadlines in a high stress environment. Skill in au-tomated accounting systems. Ability to plan, organize and evaluate the work of subordinate staff and to train them. Ability to attend meetings at various locations. Work involves extensive sitting, repetitive hand movements in use of computer and calculator, use of a telephone, reaching, stooping, bending and moving objects. Necessary special requirement: Class C driver’s license in good standing. Union status: Excluded Equal Opportunity Employer.

■ CITY MANAGER — SAFETY HARBOR, FLA.Salary: $110,000 – $125,000, DOQ.

The City of Safety Harbor is in Pi-nellas County in West Central Florida. Bordered on the east by Tampa Bay, it has a population of 17,800 and covers 5.5 square miles. Safety Harbor is a beautiful residential community that exudes charm and quality. Quality redevelopment a pri-ority. Council-Manager form of govern-ment. 178 employees and total budget of $50 million.

The ideal candidate will have an ad-vanced degree in public administration or a related area. At least a bachelor’s degree, preferably in public administration or a re-lated area and fi ve years experience in local government as the chief executive offi cer. Applicants with extensive experience as a deputy or assistant manager in local government will be given consideration.

Cover letter, resume, and salary history by Aug. 11 to Tom D. Freijo, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, The Mer-cer Group, Inc., P.O. Box 9328, Winter Haven, Florida 33883. 863/299-3571, [email protected], 863/299-6737 (fax). EOE. Preference in initial employ-ment shall be given to eligible veterans and spouses of veterans. Applications in Flori-da become a matter of public record upon receipt. Go to www.mercergroupinc.com for a complete position profi le.

■ COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR — WAKULLA COUNTY, FLA.Salary: $60,000 – $90,000, DOQ.

Wakulla County is one of Florida’s fastest growing counties. One of the county’s greatest challenges is growth management, which includes providing adequate infrastructure to accommodate new growth, providing other necessary services, protecting the county’s unique natural resources, and developing the tax base to support growth.

The county administrator of this non-charter county serves the fi ve-member Board of County Commissioners, is re-sponsible for carrying out the policies and directives of the commission, particularly those duties set forth in section 125.74, Florida statutes. The county employs approximately 100 full and part-time personnel and has a total operating bud-get of approximately $40,000,000. The county administrator is also responsible

the position, qualifi cations, key dates and to apply online, visit www.sonoma-county.org, or contact Sonja Rhoades, Hu-man Resource Analyst, Sonoma County Human Resources, 707/565-2318, e-mail: [email protected].

■ CHIEF OF FINANCE AND BUDGET — PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, MD.

Salary: $56,437 – $62,000, DOQ.To apply, send a cover letter and

resume to: Prince George’s County Memorial Library System, Attn: Human Resources, Dept. FN, 6532 Adelphi Road, Hyattsville, MD 20782. No phone calls. Location: Administrative Offi ces, 6532 Adelphi Road, Hyattsville, Maryland 20782. Hours: Full time, Monday through Friday, normally 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Salary: $56,437 – $62,000 DOQ, and generous benefi ts package. Closing date for applications: cover letter and resume must be received in Human Resources by Aug. 18. Examples of duties: Coor-dinates the annual budget submissions for the library and administers approved budgets: forecasts and prepares operat-ing budget; prepares CIP reimbursement submissions; participates in library budget meetings and county hearings; develops internal control policies and procedures. Administers the library system’s budget and accounting policies to ensure the con-trol of receipts and expenditures: prepares state, federal and library fi nancial reports; performs reconciliations; makes journal entries; monitors encumbrances; ensures adequate collateral for excess cash bal-ances; assists auditors; establishes pro-cedures and records for budget and accounting management in accordance with standard accounting principles and practices. Manages cash fl ow of library funds: prepares balance sheets; monitors payments and reimbursements from the county; ensures appropriate cash is avail-able; ensures accurate transfers of library funds. Reviews, makes recommendations and implements internal automated fi nan-cial systems. Ensures accurate accounts payable processing and record keeping. Ensures accurate payroll processing and record keeping. Administers grant and gift funds. Trains, supervises and evaluates staff in supervisory line. Keeps abreast of developments in the fi nancial fi eld. Performs other duties or responsibilities that are related to the position.

Qualifications/requirements: Pos-session of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in accounting, fi nance or related fi eld; six years of accounting experience, prefer-ably in a public institution; supervisory experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abili-ties. Thorough knowledge of accounting laws and administrative policies govern-ing municipal fi nancial practices and procedures; thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of accounting and budgeting in government; ability to evalu-ate fi nancial systems and effi ciently for-mulate accounting methods, procedures, forms and records. Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective work-ing relationships with diverse staff and

■ ASSISTANT CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER — CITY OF SAN JOSE, CALIF.Salary: $108,950 – $169,832, DOQ.

The City of San José (pop. 954,000), “Capital of the Silicon Valley,” seeks an assistant chief information offi cer. The world’s leading center for innovation, known as the Safest Big City in America, San José is the 10th largest city in the country and was named one of the nation’s most livable large communities. In 2005, San José moved into a new state-of-the-art, high-tech city hall. Position reports to the CIO, partners with other city departments and collaborates with stakeholders within and outside the city organization towards accomplishment of organizational goals and objectives. The city’s IT Department is supported by a staff of 100 and an annual budget of $18 million.

The ideal candidate will be collabora-tive, result-oriented and a proven leader in the technology arena with high-level management experience in the public and/or private sector. Candidates with excep-tional communication skills that embrace signifi cant challenges and opportunities with enthusiasm and confi dence consid-ered favorably. Will also be customer-service focused, resourceful and a strong manager and motivator of people. Degree in computer science, information manage-ment, business or public administration or related fi eld, or equivalent experience required. Please submit resume, cover letter, current salary and six professional references by 8/25/06 to Christine Iams, CPS Executive Search, 241 Lathrop Way, Sacramento, CA 95815. 916/263-1401, [email protected]/search, 916/561-7205 (fax). www.cps.ca.gov/search.

■ ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF HUMAN SERVICES — SONOMA COUNTY, CALIF.Salary: $113,768 – $138,313, DOQ.

The County of Sonoma is seeking a creative and talented manager to join a dynamic management team dedicated to serving the residents of Sonoma County. The promotion of the current assistant director, who will succeed the retiring director, creates a unique opportunity for an innovative, creative and fl exible individual. The incumbent will work closely with the new director in defi ning and developing future roles and strategies, and assist in directing and coordination the delivery of department services. The ideal candidate for this position will have initiative, be self-motivated, creative and will have the ability to envision and plan for the future. The successful candidate will have excellent written and verbal com-munication skills, strong analytical and planning skills, effective leadership skills and seasoned judgment. Located about an hour’s drive north of San Francisco, Sonoma County combines the dramatic beauty of the rugged Pacifi c coastline with majestic old-growth redwoods, abundant vineyards and a mild year-round climate. The beauty of this area has attracted art-ists, rejuvenating spas, fi ne dining and a wide variety of entertainment and cultural activities. Excellent benefi ts. Applications will be accepted through Sept. 7. For more information regarding

■ See CLASSIFIEDS on page 19


• Line Rates: $7 per line, NACo member counties; $10 per line, others.

• Display Classifi ed: $50 per col umn inch, NACo member counties; $70 per column inch, others.

• Billing: In voices will be sent after pub li ca tion.

• Mail advertising copy to: Job Mar ket, County News, 440 First St., N.W., Washington, DC 20001.

• FAX advertising copy to: Job Mar ket, County News, 202/393-2630.

• E-mail advertising copy to: [email protected].

• Be sure to include billing in for ma tion along with copy.

• Estimates given prior to publication are approximations only and do not necessarily refl ect fi nal cost.

For more in for ma tion, contact the Job Market representative at 202/942-4256.

Job Market - Classifi ed Rate Schedule

JOB MARKET / CLASSIFIEDSJOB MARKET / CLASSIFIEDS

and resume to: Department of Human Resources, 913/715-1419 (fax); apply online at www.jocogov.org; or mail to Johnson County Human Resources 111 S. Cherry, Suite 2600 Olathe, KS 66061.

■ DIRECTOR OF PRE/POST TRIAL RELEASE — DALLAS COUNTY, TEXASSalary: DOQ.

Dallas County, the second most populated county in the state of Texas, is seeking a Director of Pre/Post Trial Release. The successful candidate will perform highly advanced administrative, fi scal and programmatic work requiring specialized knowledge in the planning, development, implementation and opera-tion of programs impacting the jail popu-lation and offenders with special needs. Directs the daily activities of programs, in accordance with standards and criteria established and approved by the Com-missioners Court and other offi cials re-sponsible for the criminal justice system. Monitors the jail population and proposes new programs, systems, procedures and approaches that may reduce lengths of stay and opportunities for pre and post trial diversion. Requirements include a master’s degree from an accredited col-lege or university in a behavioral science, business administration, and criminal, law or job related fi eld of study. Seven years of professional work-related expe-rience in criminal justice, mental health or program administration handling a multi-million dollar budget, including fi ve years of managerial and leadership experience. Skilled in the use of standard software applications. Ability to effec-tively communicate, both verbally and in writing, and establish and maintain ef-fective working relationship with elected offi cials, employees, other departments, community partners and the general pub-lic. Must possess working knowledge of criminal justice systems, jail diversion and pre/early release programs, special programs for offenders with mental and medical health needs, state and national correction systems standards and requirements, and probation and parole programs and systems. Must pass a criminal background investigation. Must reside in or be willing to relocate to Dallas County. To apply, visit our Web site at

www.dallascounty.org and complete the online application. If you have additional questions call 214/653-7634. Equal Op-portunity Employer.

■ EMPLOYEE RELATIONS MANAGER/EEO OFFICER — BREVARD COUNTY, FLA.Salary: $58,158 – $69,789, DOQ/DOE.

Brevard County, Fla. seeks individual to perform skilled professional work in managing, planning and organizing the employee relations program, including EEO duties, in a continuous improve-ment work environment. Work includes reviewing/analyzing merit system and union grievance and labor relations is-sues; conducting inquiries/investigations into complaints of discrimination; writ-ing reports of inquiries/investigations; providing consultation/guidance to directors, managers and supervisors on employee issues and recommending solu-tions; developing strategies to increase management effectiveness and improve work relations; reviewing, updating and implementing the county’s EEO Plan; assisting directors, managers, and em-ployees to informally resolve EEO com-plaint issues; and assisting managers who conduct equal employment opportunity investigations. Requirements: bachelor’s degree in sociology/social work, social science including specialization in hu-man resource management, employee relations or industrial psychology or closely related fi eld PLUS 6 years of progressively responsible experience in employee relations or human resource management. Additional qualifying education/experience may be substituted year for year. Position open until fi lled. EOE. Please send your resume to: Offi ce of Human Resources, 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way B-209, Viera, FL 32940. www.brevardcounty.us/humanres.

■ FINANCE DIRECTOR — GOODHUE COUNTY, MINN.Salary: $60,382 – $94,245, DOQ.

Goodhue County is seeking qualifi ed applicants for the position of Finance Di-rector. Goodhue County is a rapidly grow-ing county located approximately 40 miles southeast of Minneapolis/St. Paul.

This position requires a bachelor’s degree in fi nance, accounting, business administration, public administration or a related fi eld and at least fi ve years

experience in government fi nance, three of which are in management of a fi nancial department. A master’s degree or higher in a related fi eld is desirable.

This is an appointed position to ful-fi ll the provisions of Minnesota Statutes related to the county auditor/treasurer. In addition, this position is responsible for directing the county assessor and staff regarding assessments, taxations and elections.

Desirable applicants will possess experience formulating policies and procedures to increase the effective-ness of the county’s fi scal management; managing county assets including cash management and investment programs; directing the planning, delivery and evalu-ation of federal, state, county, township and school district elections; reviewing and implementing legislative directives relating to property taxation.

The range of compensation for the fi nance director is $60,382 – $94,245. This position is eligible for complete Goodhue County benefi t package. Ap-plication packets can be obtained from the Goodhue County Human Resource Department, Room 310, Goodhue County Government Center, 509 W. 5th Street, Red Wing, MN 55066 or by calling 651/385-3028. For more information about Goodhue County, please visit our Web site at www.co.goodhue.mn.us. Applications must be received in the Human Resource Department by 4:00 p.m. on Aug. 8.

■ MANAGER OF CHILDREN’S SERVICES — YORK COUNTY, VA.Salary: $52,638.

Performs responsible administrative and professional work in directing and managing child development services for Children’s Services, a Division of York County Community Services. Develops, administers, and supervises early child-hood developmental programs, including the county’s federally funded Head Start program, as well as those provided by various contract agencies. Responsible for surveying community needs, plan-ning and evaluation, to ensure compliance with local, state and federal regulations. Performs general management activities to oversee divisional fi scal and person-nel operations. Performs or assists with community projects and/or serves as a resource for issues relating to children. DMV records check and drug testing conducted prior to employment. Position requires an on-call status in emergency situations such as hurricanes, and may be assigned to work in emergency shelters, or other designated areas as directed by the Emergency Operations Center. Base salary $52,368; excellent benefi ts.

Requires a master’s degree in early childhood education, social work, school administration, or related fi eld and 6–9 years of experience in early childhood teaching and/or the administration of child development programs, or any equivalent combination of education and experience.

A York County application is required and may be obtained from the Human Re-sources Offi ce, 120 Alexander Hamilton Boulevard, Second Floor, Yorktown, VA 23690; from the county’s Web site,

www.yorkcounty.gov; or by calling 757/890-3690. Hearing impaired only, call TDD 757/890-3300. Applications will be accepted until the position is fi lled. EOE.

■ MUSEUM DIRECTOR — VIRGINIA KEY BEACH PARK TRUSTSalary: DOQ.

Virginia Key Beach Park (VKBP) in Biscayne Bay, Fla. is an 81-acre site on Virginia Key located two miles east of downtown Miami. VKBP was created for blacks in response to a 1945 protest. It served as a recreational community for African Americans and fl ourished at a time when non-whites were prohibited from using other beaches in the Miami area. Facilities included bathhouses, picnic pavilions, a concession stand, a mini-train and a carousel and other amenities. Even after segregation was outlawed in the 1960’s, VKBP remained popular with Miami’s black community. In 1982, the city of Miami closed the park. Since then, facilities have fallen into disrepair.

In 2001, the city created the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust (VKBPT) to raise public awareness and the funding needed to restore and reopen VKBP. Projects are currently under way to restore VKBP structures and popular features. VKBP has been added to the National Register of Historic Places. The VKBPT continues to raise money to restore and operate the park. The Trust is now in the process of building a $20M, 30,000-square-foot museum to honor the once-segregated park and to preserve its natural habitat. The building will be a key part of VKBP’s total restoration. Groundbreaking for the museum construction is scheduled for this summer. Its completion is set for Aug. 2008.

The museum director, under the direction of the executive director, will participate in the design, construction, staffi ng and opening of the museum, develop its collection and then have full responsibility for its day-to-day operations including supervision and control of all artistic and administrative personnel and programs.

Requires the equivalent of an ad-vanced degree in museum studies, gal-lery management, history, anthropology or related fi eld combined with signifi cant, progressive and full-range professional experience in museum or closely related cultural heritage facility operations. Must include supervisory and management level experience. The ideal candidate will be knowledgeable and experienced in cultural heritage facility initiation and development.

Compensation: Competitive pay and benefi ts. Beginning salary is ne-gotiable depending on qualifi cations. An excellent benefi t package including retirement, health, vision and dental in-surance is provided. Florida has no state income tax.

If you are interested in this outstanding opportunity, please submit your resume immediately to Robert E. Slavin, Presi-dent; Slavin Management Consultants; 3040 Holcomb Bridge Road, Suite B-1; Norcross, GA 30071; 770/449-4656;

[email protected], 770/416-0848 (fax).

Under Florida’s “Sunshine Laws,” resumes for public positions are public documents subject to disclosure upon request. If confi dentiality is of concern, please contact Slavin Management Con-sultants prior to sending your resume. Equal opportunity employer/recruiter.

■ PLANNER I — MARION COUNTY, FLA.Salary: $30,388 – $46,800, DOQ.

This is a diversifi ed professional/technical position which involves a variety of work assignments both in long range planning, comprehensive planning, and/or current planning; and the qualifi ed person will assist with review of development proposals for conformity with principles of good planning and land-use practices and for compliance with development regulations and assist in conducting on-site evaluations of areas proposed for development.

Position requires a master’s degree in planning, public administration, ar-chitecture, landscape architecture, urban design or a related fi eld and one year work experience in professional planning or re-lated fi eld; or an equivalent combination of training and experience; must pos-sess a valid Florida driver’s license and American Institute of Certifi ed Planners certifi cation desired.

Excellent benefi ts package; please apply in person at 601 SE 25th Avenue or online at www.marioncountyfl .org; ap-plication and resume can be returned via fax at 352/620-3389; position open until fi lled. EOE/ADA/VET.PREF.

■ PLANNING TECHNICIAN II — MARION COUNTY, FLA.Salary: $26,457 – $40,851.

This is a front-line planning support position responsible for assisting the senior planning technician in providing research and technical support to the various planners and general public. Must maintain GIS fi les, performs veri-fi cation of land uses, create various land use maps, zoning maps and GIS maps; also responsible for performing research to verify and present factual information, car-tographical, statistical and demographical development data.

Qualifi ed candidate must possess a two-year degree from college or techni-cal school; with three years related ex-perience and/or training; greater years of experience in the industry may substitute for a portion of the required education; or equivalent combination of education and experience; Urban Regional Information Systems Association (URISA) certifi ca-tion desired and posses a valid Florida driver’s license.

Excellent benefi ts package; please apply in person at 601 SE 25th Avenue or online at www.marioncountyfl .org; Application and resume can be returned via fax at 352/620-3389.

(If you would like information about advertising your job openings in County News and County News Online, please contact Allison Mall at 202/942-4256 or [email protected].)

■ CLASSIFIEDS from page 18

National Association of Counties • Washington, D.C. NNACo ... · Quik Takes Inside this issue ......

Documents

Transcript of National Association of Counties • Washington, D.C. NNACo ... · Quik Takes Inside this issue ......