Harrison County may cut spending

STEVEN A. McCALEB
103 ALVERADO DRIVE
LONG BEACH, MISSISSIPPI 39560
PHONE & FAX: (228)-868-8428
E-MAIL: www. mccaleb4thdist@aol.com
WEB SITE: www.mississippiwebsite.com

July 3, 2001

Privatization to be studied as option  

 "But why in private"

Elected Officials, as the "Harrison County Supervisors" should never
hide any action which expends tax dollars.
When they go behind closed doors, the appearance of corruption is
perceived.  

By GEOFF PENDER
THE SUN HERALD

Monday, April 30, 2007

The Harrison County Board of Supervisors routinely holds lengthy closed-door meetings, and often votes on multimillion-dollar contracts or expenditures with little public discussion or notice on agendas.

I remember when the Mississippi Legislature in Jackson went behind closed door and voted to double there Retirement Benefit package.

Musgrove calls special session to address pay for retirement benefits
click here

THE MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION

Sec. 5. All political power invested in, and derived from, the people; all government of right originates with the people, is founded upon their will only, and is instituted solely for the good of the whole.

Sec. 6. The people of this state have the inherent, sole, and exclusive right to regulate the internal government and police thereof, and to alter and abolish their constitution and form a government whenever they deem it necessary to their safety and happiness; Provided, such change be not repugnant to the constitution of the United States.

Privatization study surprise A decision by the Harrison County Board of Supervisors to study privatizing the Sand Beach Department came out of the blue after a closed-door session and was not on the public meeting agenda. Most of the public and county workers had already left, thinking Monday's meeting was over. But supervisors seem to have been discussing privatization behind the scenes for some time. Apparently, some county leaders have already met with Brown and Mitchell Engineering, the firm supervisors hired Monday to do the privatization study. The Harrison County Board of Supervisors routinely holds lengthy closed-door meetings, and often votes on multimillion-dollar contracts or expenditures with little public discussion or notice on agendas. Supervisor Bobby Eleuterius, who cast the lone vote against the privatization study, noted that, “At least we are making a decision about this (study) in a public meeting, as we should.”

GULFPORT - It's time to evaluate the size and cost of county government and look for ways to give taxpayers a break, some Harrison County supervisors say, especially because city annexations over the last two decades have reduced county government's territory.

If our Harrison County Supervisors want to give the taxpayers a break perhaps they will sell all of the SUV's and Ford Crown's.

Perhaps they will stop spending and misusing the $ 1 millions dollar per year escrow account.

Perhaps the FBI will re-investigate why they never gave up the Beat System by having two sets of books.

Yes, going behind close door and meeting, then making decisions which will effect the voters and taxpayers of Harrison County.

There must be a better way, but I do not believe our 5 supervisors will ever get a clue.

On Monday, the Board of Supervisors decided to hire a consultant to see whether private companies could run the $1.8 million-a-year Sand Beach Department, and possibly other county operations, at a savings to taxpayers.

They failed to tell the taxpayers the cost of the consultant firm, and which consulting firm will do the work.

“We are stewards of the taxpayers' money,” said Supervisor Connie Rockco, who proposed the privatization study, “and we need to start looking into ways of spending it more efficiently.”

Supervisor, Connie Rockco, I believe she is the supervisor which defended buying furniture for her office.

Or spending the taxpayers money unwisely.

I think she may want too take a look at herself before making the statement, “We are stewards of the taxpayers' money.”

Harrison County supervisors have come under fire from residents recently over spending and taxes. Board President Larry Benefield, who lost his bid for Gulfport mayor in the spring Republican primary, said Monday it's time the county examine its spending. He said the privatization study is likely the first of many steps the board will take to try to save money as the September deadline draws near to set the county's more than $100 million budget. The county budget is about double that of 10 years ago, despite the county's loss of more than 60 square miles to annexation from Gulfport and Biloxi in recent years.

Benefield said: “We have gotten a clear signal from people. It may hurt, but we have to have some self-examination, a hard look at county government. We have had all these annexations by cities in recent years, taking over large parts of our territory. But we haven't seen a reduction in our work force or budget. Instead, it's increased . . . I was shocked to learn that we spend almost $400,000 (a year), I think it is, in janitorial salaries for county buildings.”

A state-mandated property reappraisal last year drove up property-tax bills. Many residents were also angered by news reports last year that at least 75 non-emergency workers and elected officials in the county had take-home government cars and trucks, more than the city governments of Atlanta, Charlotte, Memphis or Las Vegas. Taxpayers were further angered over reports on how supervisors have spent $1 million a year from an "escrow account." Thousands of dollars from the account have been spent on Mardi Gras beads, parties and toys.

Supervisors have already parked more than a third of the take-home cars and reined in escrow account spending in recent months. Benefield and Rockco said they hope to offer a tax cut with the 2001-02 budget and will be looking for areas to cut in the county's budget and staff of more than 900.

Benefield said a private company could probably save the county money on maintenance and cleaning of the 26-mile beach, and possibly in other departments. He cited privatization of public works in Gulfport, Long Beach and Biloxi.

Sand Beach, which employs 32 people, is probably top heavy and inefficient compared to private industry, Benefield said.

Supervisor Bobby Eleuterius cast the only vote against the study. Although they voted for the study, Supervisors Marlin Ladner and William Martin said they doubted whether privatization would be wise or save money.

“I'm thinking about all these employees that have been here 15, 18 or 20 years that will lose their retirement,” Eleuterius said. “ . . . A man who gives that much time to the county has reason to expect he'll keep his job and retirement.”

Benefield countered: “I don't think the taxpayers ought to be responsible for giving these guys 25 years, if we can save money . . . I don't think taxpayers are concerned with that."

Ladner said he was afraid the county would get a good short-term contract for beach maintenance, but then be vulnerable to price gouging later, after the county became dependent on a private firm.

Martin said that, in general, he is opposed to privatization and thinks the county should instead have consultants study ways to make government more efficient, not turn it over to companies.