You may have seen Jon Larson’s yard sign last Fall. It had an eye-catching message. He was running to win an office he wanted to eliminate.
Needless to say, he won — unseating Democrat Sandra Varellas who’d held office since 1980 when she was appointed by Gov. John Y. Brown.
Well, Larson’s finishing out his first month in the office he doesn’t want and… he’s still in office. So what gives?
He’s not having second thoughts, that’s for sure. As the Herald-Leader explained this morning, abolishing the office requires a Constitutional amendment and not everyone’s sure they want to get behind that sort of thing.
In most Kentucky counties, the Judge Executive is a powerful, important figure. In Fayette and Jefferson, where the big city’s been merged with the county government, it’s essentially powerless.
Those opposed have various reasons… not least that there are already more than 10 proposed Constitutional Amendments and only 4 can actually go before voters.
Here’s the H-L’s rundown of the office’s duties:
The Fayette County judge-executive makes an annual salary of about $8,000 for duties that include swearing in deputies and airport police, authorizing the sheriff’s department to go out of state to pick up prisoners, appointing members of the board of assessment appeals, and appointing replacements when someone vacates a county office.
County commissioners and the judge-executive make up the Fayette County Fiscal Court. It votes each year on a county road budget, which in 2011 was $1.45 million.
“All of these things could and should … be done by the city government,” Larson said.
He’s probably right. Over in Jefferson County, the Judge Executive is actively opposing the proposal to end the two offices… but then, he doesn’t receive a salary, has even fewer (but some still important) roles, and views his essentially volunteer time to be “a matter of public service.”
Which is awesome and commendable. I love that guy and it seems like in his office, we find the answer to this question.
The City of Lexington should remove the Judge-Executive line from the city/county budget. Swearing in deputies, sending the Sheriff out of state… these duties can be handed off to existing positions and Larson (or whomever) can serve without pay on various boards, including representing Fayette County at statewide Judge Executive meetings.
Sort of like a Queen. Without the Palace. Or any money. As a public service.
According to Larson, “$28,384 was actually spent in 2009, the last year we have found audited figures. In excess of $160,000 over last ten years and $181,000 since 1998.”
That’s all tax money that could be saved. And sure, it’s not going to make a dent in the $25 Million shortfall Mayor Gray and Vice Mayor Gorton and the Council are currently trying to bring down, but…
As then candidate Gray said at debate last October, in a $500 million budget, we should be looking carefully at ways to find savings. He pointed out that one half of one percent is half a million dollars.
“Business,” Gray told that crowd sagely, “is made on percentages.”
And he’s right. So, why not kill the bill in Frankfort, cut the budget line, close the office (Larson, or whomever, can work from home) and redistribute the duties (and the tax dollars) to better causes… just like Louisville does.
SHE WON'T GO!
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