Published: September 27, 2007 08:49 pm            

GOODNIGHT: Representation will ensure accountability

Funding on a “case-by-case” basis will hinder economic development efforts

The Kokomo Tribune editorial “A reasonable compromise” acknowledges that there are several issues that must be addressed and negotiated if a successful economic development “umbrella” group is to be created. This is certainly true. However, simply asserting opposition to taking “taxpayer dollars from an elected group to an unelected group to decide how to spend the money” as a key reason not to consider a merger as my opponent has, is somewhat hypocritical. As Chamber of Commerce president, my opponent asked for and received tax dollars from the city council every year. In fact, it was almost $60,000 over the last four years. Was that not indeed a transfer of “Taxpayer dollars taken from an elected group to an unelected group”?

This idea is not new. For many years, we have been doing just that. In fact, it was the lack of accountability from these same groups that brought about the discussions of merging economic development groups in the first place. For years, the citizens of Kokomo have been giving money to “unelected groups” who then decide how to spend tax dollars with little to no accountability or scrutiny whatsoever. Groups like the Chamber of Commerce were given tax dollars, and yet never were required to show any measurable results. This was also the case with groups like the Small Business Development Corp., the Kokomo Downtown Association, and others.

My opponent has promised “to continue providing operational funds to groups that are currently funded, including groups that decide to merge”, regardless of whether they are performing or not, and without accountability. I respectfully disagree. Performance review and oversight must be a part of the equation. We must stop giving taxpayer dollars to groups, whether they eventually merge or not, just because “we always have before.”

Under the proposed umbrella, there will be accountability. The board directing this group MUST have appointments by the mayor, the city council, the County Council, and perhaps others, to allow input from elected officials. It seems reasonable that if the city is contributing 10 percent of the money for the economic development group, it should have a proportionate amount of seats on the board of directors. These decisions will eventually be finalized during mediation. Many of the most knowledgeable and respected individuals in our community will negotiate these very details.

Finally, I have strong reservations about the county commissioners requiring that “The umbrella group come to the commissioners for funding of projects” to seek funds on a case-by-case basis. That idea is government bureaucracy and red tape at its finest. This could make the president of our economic development group a full time “lobbyist” to the city council, County Council, county commissioners and mayor. Do we want a large portion of our economic development president’s time to be spent lobbying these groups and individuals continuously, or do we want this person’s time spent working to bring good-paying jobs to our city? This would be similar to appointing a chief of police, but not allowing him to make any decisions without getting agreement from six different groups (that may or may not know anything about law enforcement) before implementing any ideas.

Let’s do the right thing and allow a combined, organized and qualified economic development group and its leaders to negotiate the details and do what they do best. Let’s not fabricate excuses to remain complacent, especially when those excuses are in contrast to past and current practices of funding. We must get Kokomo and Howard County moving forward with action, accountability and commitment.

Greg Goodnight is the Democratic Party’s

nominee for mayor of Kokomo.

        

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