19 minute read
Sebastian County Judge at Forefront
Sebastian County’s Hudson at forefront as NACo looks for strategies to reduce jail populations
By Jim Phillips NACo Media Relations Director
Alleviating overcrowding in the nation’s county jails and state prisons was the focus of discussion during the NACo Justice and Public Safety (JPS) Steering Committee policy and strategy meeting Jan. 20-23 in Bexar County (San Antonio), Texas. The committee is chaired by David Hudson, county judge, Sebastian County, (Fort Smith).
The annual policy and strategy meeting enables members of NACo’s JPS committee to meet with national experts and discuss important criminal justice, public safety and homeland security issues on behalf of the nation’s 3,068 counties. The JPS committee is responsible for developing NACo policy in these areas.
The meeting’s keynote speaker was U.S. District Court Judge Jack Zouhary, Northern District of Ohio. Zouhary discussed “Building Reentry Bridges” relating to the Second Chance Act. The legislation, along with the $2 billion addition to the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program under the Recovery Act, provides assistance to counties, and other state and local governments in developing programs that will help persons leaving jail, prison or juvenile facilities to successfully re-enter their communities.
Other featured guest speakers included Dan A. Naranjo, a nationally renowned mediator, and Dr. Allen T. Craddock, St. Mary’s University attorney-mediator. Both spoke about effective strategies for using mediation by state associations of counties and state governments in designing policies to lower jail and prison populations.
Related issues discussed included “justice reinvestment,” which creates partnerships to lower jail and prison populations and takes the savings for making reinvestments in prevention, treatment, housing and other re-entry services.
Justice reentry and reinvestment are JPS committee priorities this year. Through the committee’s work, NACo will urge Congress to lower jail recidivism and reinvest the savings by reauthorizing the Second Chance Act and adopting companion legislation (Justice Reinvestment Act).
According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice statistics, there are approximately 13 million admissions to county jails each year. And of that number approximately 700,000 to 800,000 individuals are committed to state prison. An estimated two-thirds of jail inmates are in “pretrial status,” meaning they are being held without conviction at a great cost to local taxpayers. Further, statistics show that of all the un-convicted inmates, the majority (65 percent) are nonviolent offenders and are prime candidates for effective pretrial services programs.
Hudson said the annual policy meetings of the JPS committee have been enormously helpful in shaping NACo’s policies based on the knowledge of committee members and some of the top experts in the country.
“NACo had a significant role in developing the re-entry and reinvestment legislation and making the case for a strong local government involvement and an expansion of pretrial services,” Hudson said. “Counties spend more than $70 billion each year on criminal justice and billions more on health and human services, so even a small reduction in recidivism could produce billions of dollars in cost savings.”
As part of the JPS committee meetings, committee members toured Bexar County’s two primary crisis jail diversion facilities for persons with mental illness and substance abuse. These programs won the Gold Medal of the American Psychiatric Association.
Sebastian County Judge David Hudson (left), chair of NACo’s Justice and Public Safety Committee, presents NACo’s Distinguished Service Award to Leon Evans, president and CEO of the Bexar County, Texas, Center for Health Care Services. He was honored for his work in justice and health reform.
Judge Hudson with Al Alonso, Judge Presiding / County Court at Law No.1 and Drug Court in Bexar County, Texas. Judge Alonso spoke on the value of drug courts in lowering jail populations and the importance of providing treatment for addicts.
NACo applauds health reform legislation; puts no ‘undue burdens’ on counties, Brown says
NACo President Valerie Brown applauded the passage of comprehensive legislation that will expand health insurance coverage to 31 million Americans and take other important steps to improve access to quality care.
“NACo supports universal health insurance coverage,” Brown said. “This legislation goes a long way toward achieving this goal without imposing undue burdens on counties. We look forward to continuing to work with the administration and Congress in the weeks and months ahead to continue to strengthen our health system.”
President Obama signed the bill March 22, after the U.S. House of Representatives passed it the previous day. The Senate passed the same bill Dec. 24, 2009.
NACo supports the legislation’s major investments to public health infrastructure and workforce to help to move the nation’s health system from “sick care” to one that is built around wellness and health promotion. The association also supports the provisions aimed at increasing health insurance coverage and access to primary care.
NACo has long supported the expansion of Medicaid provided there is no cost-shifting to counties. Specifically, NACo is pleased with the provision in section 10201(c)(6) of the legislation that prohibits states from requiring counties to contribute a higher percentage of the non-federal share of Medicaid than they did in 2009.
Further, NACo supports the major investments in the National Health Service Corps which helps place health care professionals in medically under-served and rural areas and in expanding community health centers across the country to provide primary care and other basic health services.
NACo has called on Congress to include provisions in health care reform legislation to make conviction of a crime and sentencing to secure detention, the trigger for suspension or termination of all federal health benefits. The bill President Obama signed does that for those with incomes between 133 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty level. Section 1312 (f)(1)(B) exempts individuals in custody pending disposition of charges from the incarceration disqualification for enrolling in insurance coverage on the exchange.
County governments play an essential role in America’s health system. They are unique in their responsibility to both finance and deliver health services through public hospitals and clinics, local health departments, and long-term care facilities. In addition, counties provide mental health and substance abuse treatment and offer coverage programs for the uninsured. As employers, counties provide health insurance benefits to nearly 3 million county employees and retirees nationwide.
Member input needed for workforce survey
NACo is gathering information from members about how county officials, workforce investment boards, local industries, small businesses and training providers can best work together to promote workforce development, job creation and economic development. The input received will be shared with the Department of Labor. All 75 Arkansas counties hold membership in NACo, and our county officials are encouraged, along with other officials across the country, to complete the survey, which is located
at: www.naco.org/dolsurvey.
NACo is pleased to announce the Government Employee Marketplace as a benefit to our members, including all 75 counties in Arkansas.
The website is a free service available to public employees and retirees. The Marketplace aggregates various government employee discount programs, features pre-negotiated discounts with major suppliers and aggregates other discounts and limited offers. Employees self-select the products and services they wish to use and may also select notification features for specific products. NACo partners with Govmarket.org to provide this service as a member benefit.
Key features of the program include: • Free - absolutely no cost to join, no membership fee, no activation fee, no access fee • Significant savings - exclusive volume discounts, collective markdowns and promotions, seasonal sales, free shipping • Convenience - one online portal, thousands of brand name merchants, Internet-based and also retail-based • Simple - user friendly, easy to navigate, search and categorization functionality, minimal registration and login requirements • Local Access - get information on local gas prices, travel search, sitter finder, dining & grocery deals
The local access feature also allows users to refer local providers and manufacturers to the site for featured discounts they offer locally to government employees or the public at large. To sign up for the program go to www.govmarket. org and follow the instructions to join.
For more information on the Marketplace, contact Nancy Parrish at nparrish@naco.org or 202-661-8824.
Washington, D.C. Conference Notes: ‘We are on a roll’
By Valerie Brown NACo President
Jobs and economic recovery were the main focus for more than 2,000 elected and appointed county officials from around the country during the National Association of Counties 2010 Legislative Conference, March 6-10, at the Washington, D.C. Marriott Wardman Park Hotel.
It was an amazing experience, and I wanted to share with the members my experience.
Our budgets throughout the country are difficult to balance. We see increases in services whether health care or jails. We see less money available to us through our states and federal government, and our property or sales taxes, or both, are down in most places.
We gathered in Washington for two purposes: telling our stories to our local congressional members and sharing our experiences with our colleagues from other states and counties. By all rights, the stories should have been a little doom and gloom, but instead the atmosphere at the conference was anything but: folks were happy, ready to explore new ideas and confront old problems in a different way.
Our workshops were well attended; our general sessions were as well. We had outstanding speakers, and the administration, supported through the office of intergovernmental affairs, provided important staff members to answer our questions and guide us through new procedures and grant writing.
The only complaints I received were around two areas. There was too much to do — counties’ officials wanted to be able to experience everything; so we made the sessions they weren’t able to attend available on the Web site, (www.naco. org/legislativeconference) or downloadable on thumb drive onsite at the conference.
The other complaint was there weren’t speakers representing the minority in Congress. I’d like you to know that on every Executive Committee conference with NACo staff the question was raised by President-elect Whitley to seek speakers representing a different point of view than the majority. Every effort was made by the staff to do so. I’m sorry to report we had no takers, but we will continue to try to bring in both sides of a debate.
Many leadership changes were made last year. Out of the 11 standing steering committee chairs, nine were newly appointed. Yet each chairperson, with the incredible skill of their designated NACo legislative staff, created an atmosphere of inclusion and managed to wind their way through complex resolutions with mastery and leadership at this conference. And the topics ran from Immigration Reform to Cap and Trade, and yet unanimity was achieved at every level, supporting the committee process.
Chairman Larry Inman, Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs, is going one step further by looking at the compendium of committee platforms and trying to synthesize and make it more user friendly. Perhaps other committees that haven’t reviewed their policy positions in a while might also take at look at their platforms this year.
I suspect only the officers in their conference calls and meetings truly understand what goes on behind the scenes, and the key to success is really in the hands of one woman, Kim Struble: Kudos to a job well done and a smooth operation, even with late arrivals and changes in programming. And Karen McRunnel: thanks for your work keeping all of us on schedule.
On a final note: we are all rewarded by the work of our NACo staff under the leadership of Larry Naake. The enrichment we experienced will carry us through the weeks ahead as we confront that budget again, and we all look forward to our new Web site, which will provide more easily accessible information.
And don’t forget to look for Presidential Appointment forms online in mid-April to sign up for leadership positions next year under President-elect Whitley. We’re on a roll and it is positively moving up a hill toward Restoring the Partnership.
Book aims to help county government employees
In his 18 years of experience, Roman Abeyta knows how to be successful in local government. The county manager of Santa Fe County, N.M. has written a book, The Ten Commandments for the Local Government Employee. In it, he pulls numerous examples for each commandment from his years working in the county.
Abeyta started out as an animal control officer in Santa Fe County out of necessity rather than choice. After graduating from high school and getting married, his first son was born and he needed a job with benefits for him and his family. Five months later, he found his calling in the county’s Land Use and Development office, and continued to move up the ladder as he learned what he needed to do as a county employee to keep his career on track.
As county manager, he started thinking about what advice on career development was available for other county employees to reference.
“I have read a lot of books on success and leadership but there were none out there specifically for city and county employees,” said Abeyta. “Writing this book and using practical examples will help these employees flourish.”
Using a Ten Commandment structure, he talks about ways employees can build a solid foundation in any city or county organization. He says the most important commandment in the book is to love your job with all your heart, soul and mind. This commandment can be applied to any type of job whether it is being a county manager or working on a maintenance crew.
“Most people are working the bulk of their lives,” Abeyta added. “They should love their job since that is where they will be spending a lot of their time.” Other commandments include treating the public the way you want to be treated, not to misuse your position in local government and not to envy the position held by your boss.
Besides listing commandments employees should follow, the book includes sections on submitting to authority, what to do if you’re in middle management in local government, the job of the local government manager-administrator and observations and advice from Abeyta’s local government experience.
“I kept this book under 100 pages for a reason,” he said. “I want it to be a short and simple read so the employees can understand and apply these commandments to their jobs.”
For more information and to buy the book, visit www.romanabeyta.com. The book is also available at Barnes and Noble, AuthorHouse. com and Amazon.com.
– By Christopher Johnson NACo Editorial Assistant
Economic slump spurs more discussion about city-county consolidation
As state and local governments face a slumping economy that shows no immediate signs of improvement, the issue of efficiently providing services becomes even more critical. The usual options of service cuts or tax increases rarely produce a long-term solution and are unpopular with constituents.
A third option to address the fiscal challenges of local governance is an approach often discussed but rarely adopted: city-county consolidation. Currently, fewer than 40 consolidated city-county governments exist nationwide even though hardly a year has gone by since 1902 without local governments considering consolidation, taking proposals to the ballot more than 150 times.
Over the past two decades, consolidation plans have been proposed in more than 40 regions. Approximately 30 percent of those proposals were successful. Is it possible that current economic conditions will drive more consolidation efforts? Some recent information suggests that they will.
Georgia, by far, is the leader among the states in terms of the number of city-county consolidations. In the last five years alone, at least three city-county consolidation proposals have passed in Georgia. The movement of a fourth proposal, between Bibb County and the city of Macon, is slowly gaining momentum. Struggling with the state of the local economy, officials from both sides acknowledge significant measures are necessary. Some departments have already taken early steps, known as functional consolidation, as members from the City Council and County Board combined specific operations as part of a revamped service delivery strategy.
Both Bibb Commission Chairman Sam Hart and Macon Mayor Robert Reichert are now urging that they move forward for a consolidated city-county government. The current plan would have the two governments merge in stages over a 10-year span. Pennsylvania: In 2006, faced with considerable economic decline in the region, Allegheny County and the city of Pittsburgh found themselves discussing the possibility of consolidation. An advisory committee, jointly announced by the mayor and the county chief executive, was formed to explore the option. Studies conducted before the committee’s formation already encouraged small steps to be taken by both sides, like encouraging the establishment of a joint purchasing agreement to strengthen bidding power.
The advisory committee’s findings, released in 2008, suggest that a more unified approach to address the fiscal and administrative challenges facing the two entities and the region is needed. Since then, no official steps toward consolidation have been taken.
Mississippi: In December, Adams County officials reportedly began considering consolidation with the city of Natchez. County and city resolutions supporting the move would be integral to starting the process since new state legislation would be needed before any steps to consolidate can be made. Although no official study has begun, county supervisors supporting consolidation argue it would save taxpayer money and allow for the efficient delivery of services.
North Carolina: Although not a city-county consolidation, the city of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County provide an excellent model of functional consolidation. This occurs when two entities agree on the functional consolidation of services; in this case, either Charlotte or Mecklenburg County delivers a particular service countywide. Although political divisions continue to prevent the completion of a city-county consolidation, the CharMeck model has become a well known success in terms of governance and regional economic leadership.
Applications open for Courthouse Awards
Applications for the 2010 NACo County Courthouse Awards program are now available. The County Courthouse Awards program is sponsored by Siemens and recognizes innovative governance by county elected officials from NACo Member counties. Award winners will receive an engraved plaque that they can display in their county, recognition at the 2010 NACo Annual Conference and a $5000 college scholarship to present to a graduating high school senior. Awards will be given out in three categories: rural, suburban and urban. All NACo members are encouraged to apply. Applications must be received by May 7. Contact: Dalen Harris or Erik Johnston at 202-393-6226 / dharris@naco.org or ejohnston@naco.org.
free NACo webinars
County officials are encouraged to call in and join the ongoing free webinars offered by NACo. It involves calling in by telephone, where callers hear and can offer comments during or after the presentation, which is conducted visually over the Internet at a designated web site. Upcoming topics:
Diverting the Mentally Ill from Jails can im-
pact county budget; Thursday, April 29, 2 - 3:15 p.m. EDT
The Sequential Intercept Model (SIM), developed by the National GAINS Center, is a comprehensive model for diverting people with mental illness from jails by demonstrating ways to intervene at each point in the criminal justice system. Learn the basic concepts of SIM and hear how Allegheny County adapted it to fit its local diversion needs, and how diversion impacts jail population management — and ultimately county budgets. – Kati Guerra · 202.942.4279
Leadership Series: What’s Your Purpose? How a well defined mission statement keeps
you on track; Thursday, May 6, 2-3:30 EDT
Keeping your goals and needs in line with the demands of your office can be futile without a clear statement of personal mission. Attend this webinar to affirm the skills and roles that matter most to you and learn how to draft a personal mission statement that you can use as your “true North” when other indicators fail – Keith Niemann · 202.661.8805
Overview: NACo Annual Conference and
Exposition; Tuesday, May 11, 2 - 3:30 p.m. EDT
Policy-Education-Networking: Three important reasons to attend NACo’s 2010 Annual Conference and Exposition in Reno/Washoe County, Nev., July 16–20. Join NACo staff on May 11 for an overview of the conference schedule of speakers, workshops, and issues so you can plan your trip — not only for yourself, but for your colleagues, constituents and staff. – Ruth Nybro · 202.942.4227
Leadership Series: Looking for Balance in
a 24/7 World; Thursday, June 10, 2-3:30 EDT Fiscal instability, transparency, public accessibility 24/7 through the Internet — all these and more threaten to undermine your mission and your health. Keith Niemann, on loan to NACo from Univ. of Nebraska Extension, will present a process for evaluating changing priorities and demonstrate strategies for living “North of the line.” – Keith Niemann · 202.661.8805
Deferred compensation means less payroll tax bite
There are at least three good reasons for county employees to continue investing through deferred compensation.
1. Contributions are pre-tax. This lessens the reduction to your take-home pay. If you pay around 25 percent in income taxes, then a contribution of $100 in your employer-sponsored deferred compensation plan results in only a $75 reduction from your take-home pay. Not only does $75 out of pocket put $100 in your account, the $25 that would have been taxed now has the potential to grow and compound over the years. Note: You will pay taxes on your contributions and any earnings when and as you withdraw them from your account. 2. Markets bounce back. While past performance cannot guarantee future results, over the past 75 years every down cycle has been followed by an up cycle. Most financial experts agree that the market will recover. And that is something that no one wants to miss out on.
3. When the market is down, investors who buy may get more for
their money. We have no crystal ball nor can we offer investment advice, but if you believe the market will rise over the long term, right now might actually be a good time to “more for less” by continuing to contribute (or even increasing contributions) into your deferred compensation account. But as is always the case when looking for the best way to handle your money, remember investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal.
About Nationwide...
Recent headlines and the current economic climate highlight the importance of making sure personal and retirement investments are with a financially strong company. As part of its oversight of its Deferred Compensation Program, NACo hires an independent consultant to evaluate several different program aspects. These include the creditworthiness of Nationwide Financial, the parent company to our program administrator, Nationwide Retirement Solutions, and the competitiveness of the fixed annuity investment option return to our program participants. In their analysis of the creditworthiness of Nationwide, the consultants noted that while Nationwide continues as a strong organization even though in 2008 it was downgraded, due in part to the general economic conditions as well as some of those related spe-
