Tuesday, February 11, 1997
COG officials: Proposed bill shifts power to
state
By ROY A. JONES II / Senior Staff Writer
A bill that would change the way many regional councils of
government do business won't have much effect on the West Central
Texas Council of Governments, its top officials say.
Both executive director Brad Helbert and executive board president
Dr. Jerry Marshall expressed concern, however, that the proposed
bill shifts power away from local government.
Helbert and Marshall were contacted in Washington, D.C., where
they are attending a federal briefing and working with Congressman
Charles Stenholm on a study of the long-term impact to West Texas
of the agriculture bill that phases out economic support over
the next several years.
"We don't have any quarrel with the accountability part,
but let's keep local control," said Marshall, who is also
mayor of Rotan. "The public officials who serve on the board
are all elected officials who are responsible and accountable
to the people we serve. We don't just rubber stamp everything
Brad does."
Marshall said he'd like to see the bill sponsored by state
Rep. Rob Junell, a San Angelo Democrat, rewritten "in such
a way that it doesn't erode local control."
Some regional governments may see the bill as "an attempt
by the state to micro-manage," said Jim Compton, director
of administration for the WCTCOG.
"From an administration standpoint we don't necessarily
have a problem with the bill," Compton said. "We're
already doing the complete internal audit it requires. It's just
a question of where they want another copy sent."
Helbert said some COGs will be "profoundly affected"
by some of the provisions of Junell's bill, particularly the way
"indirect costs" are defined and charged. Indirect costs
are charges for services not directly related to a single program.
"As many programs as we administer, it will probably have
the most effect on how we audit," Helbert said.
"We've talked at the federal and state level about returning
responsibility to the local level. We've got a great board of
directors of all elected people. Any attempt to erode that and
take responsibility away is not in our best interests," Helbert
said.
Banning the use of taxpayer money to pay for alcoholic beverages
or entertainment will have no effect on WCTCOG, added Helbert,
an ordained Southern Baptist minister.
The proposed legislation grew out of a <I>San Angelo
Standard-Times<I> and Harte-Hanks Newspapers investigation
last year that revealed hundreds of tax dollars were spent at
Austin nightclubs - including $700 at a topless bar - by the executive
director of the Permian Basin COG.
Other misuses included two-day meetings at resorts where only
19 minutes of business was conducted.
No irregularities were found in the WCTCOG operation.
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Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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