March 17, 2011 in City

Proposal increases county commission from 3 people to 5

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Voters may get a chance to decide whether Spokane County needs more than three commissioners to run local government, the number it’s had since Washington became a U.S. territory in 1854.

Karen Kearney, a civic activist and unsuccessful Spokane City Council candidate, said she soon will ask county commissioners to schedule a vote on increasing the size of the board to five members.

Commissioner Mark Richard thinks the cost can’t be justified in the current economy, but Commissioners Todd Mielke and Al French are willing to let voters decide.

Kearney said she’s prepared to lead a petition drive to force a vote if commissioners decide against putting it on the ballot.

Rockford Mayor Micki Harnois and Spokane County Auditor Vicky Dalton also support the increase.

Kearney, Harnois and Dalton aren’t working together. However, each believes representation would be better if commissioners’ workloads were reduced so they could spend more time with constituents.

County commissioners serve on approximately 30 boards and committees, and spend much of their time in meetings.

“It’s enough to make your head spin,” Dalton said.

French said he has gotten home before 8 or 9 p.m. only a “handful” of times since he took office in January, “which is something my wife constantly reminds me about.”

“I think it’s time to come into the 21st century,” Kearney said. “We have the same number of commissioners that we had back when the county was established.”

The Spokane area went through numerous county structures before its current territory was established in 1889 when Washington gained statehood.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 57,542 Spokane County residents in 1890 and 471,221 in 2010.

Kearney, Harnois and Dalton said another reason for adding commissioners is so two of them may confer without scheduling a public meeting.

“That, for me, is the No. 1 reason,” Harnois said.

She said commissioners have been scrupulous about not sitting together or huddling in a corner when two of them attend meetings of agencies such as the Spokane Regional Transportation Council, but it’s awkward.

Richard, French and Mielke agreed.

Commissioners can use staff members to find out what other commissioners think about issues, but that is time-consuming, Mielke said.

Also, he said, “It’s the circle theory: You whisper something to the person next to you, and it’s completely different when it comes back to you.”

Harnois said expanding the county commission is not a high priority for her, “but if somebody else wants to, I definitely would support them.” She said she wanted to get commissioners’ opinions before taking action.

Richard found it “disappointing that Auditor Dalton took it upon herself” to endorse the idea before consulting commissioners.

Dalton recently announced her position to commissioners when she presented a fact sheet on the process of expanding their board. She said she researched the issue after receiving several inquiries since last year’s primary election. Commissioners put the issue on the ballot in November 1991, and 67 percent of voters rejected the proposition.

Richard isn’t convinced voters will be any more receptive now. Although he sees merit in the proposal, Richard said he doesn’t think the cost can be justified.

“You’re talking about something easily approaching a half-million dollars, and I just don’t see how we can afford it in this economy,” Richard said.

Each $93,000-a-year commissioner gets an executive assistant who is paid up to $49,136 a year.

French and Mielke put the annual cost of two new commissioners between $325,000 and $400,000. They favor letting voters decide whether the expenditure is worthwhile.

“When you look at a $560 million budget, that’s a rounding error, but in this economic climate, even a rounding error is important,” French said.

Richard said he thinks commissioners should accept a pay cut if their workload is reduced.

French and Mielke said they would insist the proposal not be on a ballot by itself, which could cost the county up to $325,000. Next year’s primary or general elections might be a good time because there will be many countywide races to dilute the cost, Mielke said.

He said improving representation by increasing the number of commissioners should be viewed as a step toward consolidation of local government services.

“I think it takes us closer to the models across the nation that have worked,” Mielke said.

12 comments on this story so far. Add yours!

• 

  Truthbtold on March 17 at 6:02 a.m.

  Of Course the 3 amigos would tell the public that “we” cannot afford to have 5 commissioners. They don’t want anyone who actually has “our” backs or the voice of reason when it comes to “OUR” money.

  Trust in this Spokane, if we would have had 5 instead of 3, Spokane would not be the owners of a money pit called the Spokane Raceway.
  And that is just the tip of the iceberg!!!!!

  We NEED 5 commissioners before the 3 sink our county like the Titanic!!!

• 

  DHF on March 17 at 7:19 a.m.

  It is funny how in times of economic disaster on can come up with an idea to want more Bureaucrats. If you have more than one commissioner you already have one to many. They can allways find money for stupidity.

• 

  DickAdams on March 17 at 8:19 a.m.

  DHF, I could not agree more. Its a 3 ring circus now with too many clowns. French, use too complain about all the time he spent serving as a Spokane city councilman. Same old crap. French might want to purchase a parrot and teach it to say. “WORKING TO 8 OR 9PM my wife is unhappy”. Better yet buy a broken record. French is pathetic.

• 

  Ninch on March 17 at 8:40 a.m.

  The 5-commissioner proposal has been tried in the past and failed miserably at the polls.

• 

  Coffee on March 17 at 9:06 a.m.

  That is all this county needs is two more blood sucking leaches attached to the tax payers wallets.

• 

  Mark_Richard on March 17 at 11:05 a.m.

  I support the concept, I just don’t support the cost right now. If you all want to pay for it; fine. I also told reporter I believe the existing commissioners should take a pay cut to help defray cost. Additionally, we have no space in our office, so it would require total relocation or a remodel which adds to the cost and my assumption is that people have better things to do with their scarce resources right now.
  The track purchase is a popular target. The fact is, they have over 100 events planned for this year, including friday night drags all summer to keep the kids off the streets. And for the first time in history, a NASCAR event. I would encourage you to ask the retailers and hoteliers in the area if they think saving this facility was a good idea for their businesses and their employees. The General Store, paint shops, and hotels (Rita Santanillas at the Best Western Peppertree) are all positively impacted; not to mention our having preserved a safe place for your youth to recreate without breaking the law or risking yours and my life.

• 

  tomnsahl on March 17 at 11:11 a.m.

  Spokane County has deserved better since the nepotism and bullying of Phil Harris. The firing of Dr. Thorburn remains a blight on the image Spokane projects.

  Remove ALL of these provincial thinking “boys clubbers” and hold an election for 5 NEW and forward thinkers, who are not wed to ANY past political deal makers. While they should be paid - we could redistribute the current salaries in a much more sensible manner - say $65k per commissioner and $40k for 2 assistants.

• 

  Mark_Richard on March 17 at 11:42 a.m.

  Spokane raceway park is the only park in the entire county park system that turned a net profit in 2010; helping pay for a few services in other parks.

• 

  tomnsahl on March 17 at 2:00 p.m.

  One reader mentions the Spokane Raceway, and Mark posts 2 replies … “Thou dost protest too much” oh overworked boss! As for which parks turn a profit; who is responsible to oversee them again?

  I appreciate your offer to take a pay cut; unfortunately it is too little, too late.

• 

  philipgregory on March 17 at 2:31 p.m.

  SR This STORY should NOT be HELD up FOR ransom TO your GREED!!

• 

  misjustice on March 17 at 6:44 p.m.

  Of course commish Richard is going to defend the racetrack; more spin from one of the three stooges, in an attempt to defend the indefensible.

  I remember seeing photos from some of the events at the track last year, why there was a whopping 30 or so people in attendance! Woot! Woot!

• 

  D Statler on March 18 at 10:32 p.m.

  I would be happy if the three Commissioners we have could get a grip on our Legal Justice System. Our Police,Sheriffs and PROSECUTORS offices are out of control. We read about all the embarrassing mishaps and mistakes.Spokane has become the laughing stock of Washington State. I would like to see who is really in charge of our county. Nobody wants to do anything to make things better around here but buy race tracks.No worries,the Tribe will buy the track after we get it making money again :^)