Frieda Benefield: ‘Creative’ thinking gets around the will of the voters

Behind the scenes, county public works directors and city managers have gotten “creative” since they haven’t had voter support for Altamont Corridor Express train and street/road work. Voters decided they wouldn’t be in support of this kind of tax measure when polled by the County Policy Board. But did that stop these “creative” fellas? No way.

Instead, they gave “just enough” to each interested group to tease them on the ballot this fall. And how to make it work? Get the money elsewhere! Don’t allow the programs you manage to spend their specifically allocated funding on what it should be spent on! That ‘s the ticket. Need training? Federally mandated training is a luxury. Need supplies? Cheapest pens. Maintenance? Trade “services” between the “gentlemen’s club” posse.

At the end of the year, the money left “on the table” can be used in “creative” ways – like funding a project voters didn’t want to support in the first place. Moves like these are what gives the public the correct perception that local government is full of liars and thieves. It makes me sick.

This story was originally published February 29, 2016 at 6:13 PM with the headline "Frieda Benefield: ‘Creative’ thinking gets around the will of the voters."