Officials Buy Selves Gold Stars Phil Harris Authorizes Order Of Gold Badges For Commissioners
Spokane County Commission chairman Phil Harris suggested two weeks ago the county’s budget woes were so severe that electric pencil sharpeners be replaced with hand-cranked ones.
But in early July, Harris authorized the expenditure of $343.44 in taxpayer money to buy gold-plated, police-type badges for commissioners, even though they already had picture identifications.
The purchase has left even one commissioner scratching his head.
“I ain’t going to wear it,” said George Marlton, who was appointed to the three-member board in June to fill an unexpired term.
Marlton leaves his five-pointed star on his windowsill. “It’s ridiculous. I’m not that insecure.”
Harris defends the purchase, saying it was made before he knew about the county’s fiscal problems.
On behalf of the board, county risk manager Claude Cox ordered six badges from The Cop Shop on Mission Avenue at $53 apiece.
Three badges will remain county property and will be used by future commissioners, Harris said.
The other three will be given as part of an emeritus program to former county commissioners with long tenures of service.
Harris said county commissions all over Washington state are buying similar badges, although a representative of the Washington Association of Counties had never heard of the practice. Harris later said he got the idea for the badges from a Douglas County commissioner who chairs the state association.
“I don’t feel really bad about it,” Harris said. “This office needs some recognition. I don’t need it. The office does.”
Commissioner Steve Hasson, foreseeing the public relations ramifications, quickly reimbursed the county for the cost of his badge.
He uses it when responding to neighborhood disputes and other controversial public situations when the parties involved might not know who he is.
The other day, Hasson questioned citizens who had built on county property. They were surly until they saw his gold badge, emblazoned with the words District 2 County Commissioner.
“They saw the badge and were very nice,” Hasson said. “I think it’s helpful on my job.”
Harris concedes the timing of the badge buy was bad, and that he would have delayed it had he known the extent of budget problems.
A sharp downturn in the construction industry will cost the county approximately $1 million in lost sales tax revenues this year.
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MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: For the record The three badges used by the current commissioners will remain county property and will be used by future commissioners. The other three will be given as part of an emeritus program to former county commissioners with long years of service.