The proposed new charter for Saratoga Springs is the latest in a continuing effort to reform our city government. Our commission form of government is outmoded and gets more costly every day. You simply cannot divide a government into five separate and independent fiefdoms and put a politician in charge of each part. It is a recipe for chaos, dysfunction and discord.
The 2001 Charter Commission attempted to fill in the missing pieces (there were many) and proscribe what was required to ensure transparency and accountability. Personnel, budget, finance, inventory and capital systems were mandated. The problem is that few of these reforms have been implemented and likely are not to be as long as the commission form of government is in place.
I say this reluctantly because I was a part of the 2001 Charter Commission and have since witnessed politics overpower and defeat routine government functions and the implementation of charter requirements.
Taxpayers deserve better. The new proposal corrects these deficiencies:
It separates politics from the administration of government;
It provides for best practices and professional management;
It provides for an independent City Council to set policy, monitor operations and ensure accountability;
It consolidates operations, ensuring effective use of human and material resources;
It unifies city operations (one personnel function rather than five); and
It provides citizens as well as employees with improved information and access.
Much has been said about the costs of government. Saratoga Springs has a $40 million-plus budget, a work force of more than 400 and seven separate union contracts in five independent departments. Such a scenario precludes streamlining and cost savings. It defies common sense and is not how anyone organizes any business or government operation unless they can ignore costs.
The commission form of government served us well past its designed effectiveness. We need a change. Vote "yes" on the charter proposition Nov. 6.
C. MARK LAWTON
Saratoga Springs
Former state budget director