By Michael Howell
A majority of members of the Ravalli County Local Government Study Commission are recommending that Ravalli County should continue with the commission form of government and that issues relating to the number of commissioners, term length of commissioners, and type of election (partisan versus non-partisan) should be placed on the ballot.
The Study Commission was formed in November of 2014 and consists of five members including Chairman Alan Thompson, Scott Boulanger, George Corn, Sharon Schroeder and Marilee Shockley. In its final amended report, the study commission placed three issues on the ballot to be decided in the June 7, 2016 primary election:
• Question #1 – The NUMBER OF SEATS on the Ravalli County Board of Commissioners shall be:
Vote for one:
– For the adoption of three (3) total seats on the Ravalli County Board of Commissioners. This option was unanimously recommended by the Study Commission members.
– Retain the existing five (5) total seats on the Ravalli County Board of Commissioners
• Question #2 – The TERMS OF OFFICE on the Ravalli County Board of Commissioners shall be:
Vote for one:
– For the adoption of six (6) year terms of office for the Board of County Commissioners. This option was recommended by a majority of the Study Commission members.
– Retain the existing four (4) year terms of office.
• Question #3 – The TYPE of ELECTION for all elected officials for Ravalli County shall be:
Vote for one:
– For the adoption of non-partisan elections.
– Retain the existing partisan elections. This option was recommended by a majority of the Study Commission members.
The Study Commission was unanimous in recommending a board of County Commissioners of three members. In considering the number of commissioners, the Study Commission found that Ravalli County ranked among the top three growth counties in the state on a percentage basis prior to 2008. Ravalli County growth has slowed significantly and the impact of departments directly involved with growth has slowed. There have been personnel reductions throughout county departments. The Growth Policy was repealed, and the Board of Adjustment and the Streamside Setback Committees were dissolved. Based on this, the Study Commission found that a board of five commissioners was no more effective than a board of three commissioners. All five Study Commission members recommended changing to a three-commissioner board.
Three Study Commission members favored six-year terms because it would provide more continuity and stability with staggered terms and a stronger base of knowledge for continuing government leadership. They found that four-year terms cause a majority of commissioners to be elected and could result in less working knowledge of county government. They found this to be true whether there are three or five board members. They found that six-year terms elect a minority at each election maintaining more stability. This allows for continuity in government management with no possibility of a majority being elected in any single election.
Two Study Commissioners favored four-year terms as being equally effective government but providing for quicker change if voters are dissatisfied. In the minority view, a four-year term of office, or less, works for all other county offices and all branches of state government except the judiciary. This includes the Office of Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Commissioner of Insurance and Office of Public Instruction. There is nothing mysterious or more complicated in the job of County Commissioner that makes it harder to master than any of these offices. In fact, many of them have quite a few more moving parts. Four-year terms make elected officials more responsive to the voters and gives maximum power to the voters consistent with good government. In years in which two commissioners are elected it gives voters the power to totally correct the course of government if voters feel that is necessary. In years when only one is elected it allows voters to send a powerful message.
“We do not believe that County Commissioners need a 6 year term based on the rationale that it takes a few years to “learn the job,” stated the minority opinion. “The public shouldn’t have to pay to educate a County Commissioner on the duties of the office. Finally, it might be argued that a six-year term for commissioners brings a certain stability to county government. There’s a fine line between stability and stagnation and the right of the voters to make frequent determinations as to how their commissioners are serving them outweighs any such dubious claim,” states the minority report.
Four out of five of the Study Commission members agreed to recommend partisan elections because it gives the voters an indication of the candidate’s philosophy.
The minority view was that non-partisan elections may require voters to study a candidate’s qualifications as opposed to selecting their party affiliation.
“Partisan politics in county government inevitability leads to disasters like the 2014 selection of Valerie Stamey as Ravalli County Treasurer. Ravalli County has the Commission Form of government. This means that that the significant duties of all county officers, including County Commissioners, are defined and limited by the Montana Legislature. Party affiliation has little, if anything, to do with the duties of county level officials. Accordingly these local county officials should be elected based on their competence, abilities and skills instead of party labels,” wrote George Corn in the minority opinion.
If voters adopt the majority recommended amendments, they would vote for new commissioners in the 2018 election cycle.
If voters decide to reduce to three commissioners, the two commissioners that run for office in 2016 would hold two-year terms. In this way three commissioners would stand for office in the 2018 election cycle. If there is no change in the number of commissioners, and voters decide not to switch to three commissioners, then they would serve full terms as determined by the voters. In either option, the length of term would be determined by drawing lots as per Montana statute.
If approved, the date of the primary election for officers of the new government of Ravalli County would be held at a special election on June 5, 2018. The date of the general election for officers of the new government of Ravalli County would be held at a special election on November 6, 2018. The effective date of the alternative plan of local government of Ravalli County would take effect when the officers take office on January 2, 2019 at 10 a.m.
In a few supplemental reports, the Study Commission found that citizens expressed concern that it was often difficult to find a Commissioner in the Commissioner offices when they wanted to discuss county business with a Commissioner.
They recommended that the County Commissioners establish a schedule whereby at least one Commissioner is always present for informal citizen discussion during hours when the Administrative Building is open.
Based on comments in community meetings, they suggested that individual Commissioners hold town meetings periodically within their district to enable citizens a chance to discuss issues important to them.
It was noted that as different types of government available to the county were discussed, a number of citizens expressed an interest in the Commission-Executive or Commission-Manager form of government. When the Study Commission explained that an Executive Officer would appoint department heads that are currently elected, interest changed. Citizens want to continue to elect those positions. However, citizens felt the county would benefit if the Commissioners hired a qualified manager trained in public administration to assist them. This person would make the Commissioners more efficient by performing research and making recommendations to them.
While this would be an expensive position to fund, it was suggested that this person could end up saving the county more money in terms of settlements than the position would cost.
During public meetings held by the Study Commission, Ravalli County department heads were interviewed and a recurring comment was how difficult it is for departments to function smoothly when they need to obtain permission from the Commissioners to make purchases already approved during the budgeting process. It was suggested that the Commissioners simplify the purchasing operation to allow for budgeted acquisitions without redundant approval of the Commissioners.
Department heads and elected officials did not feel there was enough interaction with the Board of County Commissioners and other department heads and advocated that quarterly meetings be held to see what other departments are doing, discuss problems, and possibly share resources.