By Alan Kent Burkhalter
As I consider the Titus County Road Management Vote issue (Prop 1 - Unit System) I have two concerns. One is the management of taxpayer money, and two is the road conditions in Titus County. I have no particular concern with the county road conditions. It seems to me as if the present commissioners are doing an adequate job of road maintenance. We all know at times that some roads will need attention and that no commissioner could possibly keep all roads in tip-top shape at all times. Thus, I look at the Unit System solely as a taxpayer money management question and I look for facts and ideas which support or don’t support either side.
Ask yourself: “Considering the loss of tax base with the down sizing of major businesses in the county, under the present management system, how likely is it that the budget for Titus County will ever be reduced?” Another question might be: “Over the past five years can you make a list of the significant cuts that the Titus County commissioners have made that have continued over time?”
From what I’ve read and learned over the last month, when a proposal in any county is made to move to the Unit System there is always opposition, and this opposition almost always comes from the same people: the existing elected commissioners.
Here’s why. The commissioners vote their own salaries, mileage allowances and etcetera. Here are some numbers. I think they are close. If they are really off the wall, please let me know.
We presently have four commissioners. Here’s a list and their salaries: Fields: $56,320 plus $15,600 mileage allowance for a total of $71,920. Hinton: $56,320 plus $15,600 mileage allowance for a total of $71,920.
Parker: $55,216 plus $9,000 mileage allowance for a total of $64,216.
Riddle: $55,216 plus $6,000 mileage allowance for a total of $61,216.
All of these commissioners receive benefits above their base salaries as listed above, such as; retirement, social security, and health insurance. Salaries plus benefits place all of these commissioners at over $90,000 per year. A commissioner becomes vested in the state Texas County & District Retirement System after he/she has served eight years. If you can get reelected once, and serve out at least the second term, you are in the nicely funded and rewarding retirement system. This would be a very good thing for any commissioner and is solely provided only if a commissioner can satisfy his voting base and get reelected at least once. If you can get reelected multiple times, as Mr. Fields and Mr. Hinton have done, you will lead a very good life while you are working at the salaries above, and when you move on to retirement.
There are two reasons that Mr. Field’s and Mr. Hinton’s salaries are higher than the other two. One is that both commissioners took the 2% raise offered on October 2nd, and the other is that they both take the $15,600 mileage allowance for which neither is required to actually document the miles that they travel; in other words, it’s just part of their salary. The taxpayers also pay benefits on this $15,600, which is why they are not required to actually document their miles. In my view this is unethical.
Mr. Parker and Mr. Riddle’s salaries are less because they did not take the 2% raise offered on October 2nd, and because they actually document their mileage and take the state reimbursement for miles traveled. Mr. Riddle budgeted $6,000 (he’s actually been paid about $5000 for the past few years) in the current budget, and Mr. Parker budgeted $9,000.
Mr. Parker, Mr. Riddle, and Mr. Lee, the county judge, all document their mileage and take the state rate. This is the right thing to do. They deserve credit for making an ethical decision and doing the right thing.
It is my understanding that a much smaller amount of the money budgeted in Titus County goes to roads and bridges than running other aspects of the county, and that managing this smaller amount of money takes a large cut in the commissioner’s work load. This will change with the Unit System.
If a change is made to the Unit System, as I see it, several things will happen. A certified engineer, who is hired by and answers to the commissioners, will be hired to manage the existing crew members in all of the precincts and be responsible for roads and bridges.
The existing commissioners will in effect become part time and become overseers of the larger amount of the budget which is not used for roads and bridges.
The commissioner from Upshur County said he could work one day a week and attend two meetings a month and do his duties as commissioner. The commissioner salaries in Upshur County are $30,000. He said salaries could be lowered to $24,000.
On a change to the Unit System $24,000 would be a fair salary for a commissioner. The commissioners drawing the high present salaries could either vote to take a lower salary, or be replaced by a candidate who would run and say they would take the lower salary, which would probably include some business people who would want to serve and control the budget at the county level, and who would have never taken a full time commissioner position but would be willing to work part time. Remember when Al Riddle ran and took a half salary for his first term; he did what he said he would do and got reelected.
The results would be a commission court composed of people who know money, know budgets, know how to find ways to be more efficient, and MOST IMPORTANTLY ARE NOT RUNNING TO GET REELECTED. The roads would also be supervised by a certified engineer who answers to the commissioners: hired and fired by three out of five votes. You may check “Texas Transportation Code” Chapter 252 Subchapter D Section 252.301through 252.314 for the defined relationship between the commissioners and the county road engineer.
In my opinion the Titus County budget will never be adequately controlled or reduced under the present system and that’s why I’m inclined to try a change.
I’m not going to vote early. I want to wait and see the facts and ideas that may be presented between now and November, and to read and see discussions on the issue. If there is better logic between now and the November voting day, I’ll change my mind.
If you would like to discuss the issue via phone, to connect please private message me on Facebook.
And no, I’m not going to call people names, insult people with disgusting language, and or, say any one has ulterior motives. There are many good people on both sides of this issue. What I prefer is logical, factual discussion, and common sense. I think we all want what’s best for our county and hopefully whatever happens with be the best choice.
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