Budget committee looks like another futile task force effort

Rory Reid does love a task force.

In 2003, he proposed two of them, one for ethics and another to study University Medical Center.

In 2004, he requested a task force for growth.

Six months ago, he sought a task force to help the county set budget priorities.

"We're approaching task force fatigue," he admits.

He and I don't agree on the benefit of task forces.

I think they're an excuse for county officials to take cover from controversial ideas. I argue county bureaucrats and elected officials should already know what to do and just do it.

But the chairman of the Clark County Commission, a Democratic candidate for governor, countered that establishing task forces involves the public on critical issues and allows independent eyes to take a fresh look at problems.

"It goes to transparency and having more faith in county government," he said.

The latest task force, the Committee on Community Priorities, is close to making its final recommendations. I've watched a few of the meetings and read the minutes of the rest. It's not pretty.

County officials told the 15 members how the county operates, then answered questions.

Watching the meeting in which UMC was discussed was particularly painful. Some committee members were obviously foundering trying to get their arms around that massive albatross.

"What's your recommendation? You know more than all of us," real estate developer Roland Sansone asked George Stevens, the county budget director. Stevens said he'd been dealing with UMC problems for 25 years. He knew the problem, but didn't suggest a solution, even though he could.

The committee will finalize its ideas at the next meeting at 9 a.m. Jan. 7 in the commission chambers. Right now, there is a draft version of 13 pages of ideas. Essentially, the recommendations involve consolidating services, outsourcing services, eliminating jobs and raising fees, as well as increasing efficiency.

Most committees require majority votes and approve suggestions. This committee doesn't require consensus or a majority. Instead members present lots of ideas and throw them on the wall like spaghetti to see whether they stick.

The largest number of recommendations involves consolidation. That would require cooperation between the county and the cities. I'm uncertain how successful that would be because historically nobody wants to give up power or jobs. I'm not optimistic, though some of the ideas are logical and would make it easier on people who use the services.

Earlier this year, Reid told me, "Thirty eyes looking at our budget from top to bottom are going to see something we didn't see."

After seeing the draft report, I asked Reid to tell me whether he saw three fresh ideas. He was cautious, as he always is, and said he wanted to wait until the final report was submitted. "What I saw were a lot of common-sense ideas."

A sampling from the draft:

• Consolidate the county justice courts with the local municipal courts.

• Combine Social Services and Family Services.

• Sell UMC.

• Consolidate county business license services with the local governments.

• Outsource detention services.

• Higher fees. Just a few: Increase fees to record documents or get a business license. Charge youths and parents for probation and intake services.

• Reorganize the Clark County Fire Department to address overtime.

Reid insisted the priorities committee is not a waste of time.

"They may not come forward with any revelations or suggestions that people celebrate. But nobody can say we didn't involve the community and shine a white-hot light on our budget. And that exercise alone is important."

Maybe Reid is right. But without results, the exercise is just that, an exercise.

Jane Ann Morrison's column appears Monday, Thursday and Saturday. E-mail her at Jane@reviewjournal.com or call 702- 383-0275. She also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/morrison.