May 10, 2016 at 5:09 p.m.
Consultant’s tips have made sense
Editorial
Greg Guerrettaz, the financial consultant brought in to help Jay County get its fiscal house in order, hasn’t won many admirers locally.
Those who have dealt with him will tell you he often comes across as glib or arrogant.
But in pretty short order, he has managed to get county officials focused — maybe better than ever before — on how to manage local government spending.
The first step, of course, was admitting there was a problem.
A few county council members and former courthouse office holders have been pounding on this for some time, but it’s only recently that those concerns have been recognized.
The second step was — like it or not — bringing in an outside set of eyes to look over the county’s numbers. Yes, it’s the view from 35,000 feet and full of generalities.
But it’s a start.
The third step: Forming a study committee involving commissioners, county council members, department heads and key office holders like the county auditor.
Step four: Building a plan. That should be a foregone conclusion, but county budget building has been a make-it-up-as-you-go process for as long as anyone can remember.
Step five: Start early.
Usually, the county council starts focusing on the next year’s budget sometime around late July. More often, it’s August.
This year will be different. County auditor Anna Culy has pressed department heads and office holders to submit 2017 budget proposals in the spring, not late summer. Having those proposals in hand early is invaluable. That’s the key to planning.
And finally, to bring us up to date on where we are today, step six: Start with revenues.
For years, the budget building process has begun with proposals from various departments. This year, it will start with the best available projection of county tax revenues in 2017.
Any discussion about spending will be framed within a projection of what funds will be available.
Make sense? Sure it does.
It shouldn’t require hiring an outside consultant to spell that out. But if the message gets through, it will be money well spent. — J.R.
Those who have dealt with him will tell you he often comes across as glib or arrogant.
But in pretty short order, he has managed to get county officials focused — maybe better than ever before — on how to manage local government spending.
The first step, of course, was admitting there was a problem.
A few county council members and former courthouse office holders have been pounding on this for some time, but it’s only recently that those concerns have been recognized.
The second step was — like it or not — bringing in an outside set of eyes to look over the county’s numbers. Yes, it’s the view from 35,000 feet and full of generalities.
But it’s a start.
The third step: Forming a study committee involving commissioners, county council members, department heads and key office holders like the county auditor.
Step four: Building a plan. That should be a foregone conclusion, but county budget building has been a make-it-up-as-you-go process for as long as anyone can remember.
Step five: Start early.
Usually, the county council starts focusing on the next year’s budget sometime around late July. More often, it’s August.
This year will be different. County auditor Anna Culy has pressed department heads and office holders to submit 2017 budget proposals in the spring, not late summer. Having those proposals in hand early is invaluable. That’s the key to planning.
And finally, to bring us up to date on where we are today, step six: Start with revenues.
For years, the budget building process has begun with proposals from various departments. This year, it will start with the best available projection of county tax revenues in 2017.
Any discussion about spending will be framed within a projection of what funds will be available.
Make sense? Sure it does.
It shouldn’t require hiring an outside consultant to spell that out. But if the message gets through, it will be money well spent. — J.R.
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