There is no longer any question about it. County government must get smaller. Budgets are shrinking and will continue to do so for years to come. Taxpayers are demanding that scope of government be reigned in. Smaller, faster and less costly government is the answer.
The Band-Aid approach of cutting budgets without underlying reform will not work any longer. If elected, I will champion consolidation that will realize meaningful savings and enhanced return on the taxpayers’ investment. We will examine consolidation of fleet maintenance, purchasing, human resources, public safety and transportation (street and highway) departments and any other support functions shared between Allen County, the City of Fort Wayne and our community’s other muncipalities.
I will also support streamlining county leadership by adopting an elected single county executive system, replacing the dysfunctional three-member Board of Commissioners arrangement. I will support a single county executive system without the caveats that have been placed in the way of this reform by current and previous Commissioners.
A county executive system would also give unincorporated areas MORE effective representation and ability to elect a candidate. The current system, with three districts overwhelmingly weighted by Fort Wayne population, would suddenly become one district with 80,000 residents who do not live in Fort Wayne. While it is nearly impossible for unincorporated areas to elect a commissioner now, electing one executive gives those areas a real voice in local government. A county executive system works better for everyone.
It is good for local government because it makes local government make more sense. It is also the only effective way to restore faith in county government that has been damaged by decades of dysfunction. By doing this, we endorse badly needed streamling by starting at the top.
If Allen County taxpayers are to ever truly realize the value of their investment in government, we must refocus county government on its core duties and constituencies by transforming its outmoded organizationaly structure.