Here’s the Situation
It’s been two years since I wrote over 12,000 words about helping us gain trust in government at any level. I called it, The Contract with the Community. With my 20,000 hours studying government systems, and thousands of hours studying local governments, I was convinced Starting at the local level was a good idea. With the help of my friend Shane Nicholson, the talented former editor of The Rock River Times, the idea became reality. I am revisiting the Contract, and will weave more current events into its columns in coming days.
Revisiting the Contract with the Community
Though much is different, much remains the same. The election of 2018 is over. Spring elections will quickly be upon us. Two major area projects are clouded in controversy or mystery . The Winnebago County Board has again tried to reform county government, though their intent may be suspect. The threat of higher property taxes looms overhead. Campaign promises are being made as backroom deals are closed over lunch at the airport with a wink and a handshake. People trust government less and less. More flee Illinois each and every hour – not month, not year, but yes, every hour. How do we stop the cycle of using power to confer privilege? How do we reform government?
The answer is simple. We don’t need to rely on candidates to reform government. Reformation does not need to come from political parties or power hungry politicians. It should come from the people. If we hold every government official – elected or appointed, Republican or Democrat, conservative or liberal – to a high standard, then our communities, our states, and even our country might change for the better.
What We Know
In an increasingly polarized world, it is hard to believe people can agree politically. But it’s important to remember two points.
First, the things that unite us are far greater than the things that divide us. As wide as we think the chasm is between ourselves and those who disagree with us, we are all people. We all live in the greatest country in the world. We can find ways to work together. We don’t have to be enemies.
Second, it is okay to agree to disagree. 300 million people cannot possibly see eye to eye all the time, and neither can the 300,000 or so people in Rockford and its neighboring communities. But disagreement does not make us enemies. So long as we listen and try to understand each other, we’ll be on the right track.
There are 10 points below. Consider them a Contract with the Community. Think about how they can help create a better future for our community. Consider them, discuss them, and let us know how we can make them better.
Our Mission
Our mission will be to examine and discuss each point in the coming weeks, both in these pages and with your elected and appointed officials. Every candidate for office should be ready, willing and able to sign a similar contract with the community, pledging to pursue all 10 points. Every appointee for public office should sign the contract before their appointment is officially confirmed.
Every party and every candidate will have their own interpretation of what the points mean, but if they sign the contract, they will be pledging to explain how they will specifically abide by it. The contract will serve as a measuring stick for people to hold them accountable.
So let’s start a community conversation about reforming government. Let’s try to find a path to trusting government by arming ourselves with the tools needed to hold public officials accountable. Engagement is more than simply showing up at the polls; it is holding to task those persons in office day after day. The success of representative government rests on more than the quality of the representatives – it also rests on the quality of the represented.
Contract with the Community
1. Transform Government Processes
There is too much opportunity for public officials to acquire power and use it to allocate privilege. Transforming the process exposes the back rooms to the light of day. Sunlight is the best disinfectant. Open government is the right of the people.
2. Transparent Budgets
Transparent budgeting is a must. Budget processes should be well documented and easily accessible for the general public. Budget discussions in every form of government should be comprehensive. Everything should be published and made widely available. Publication of the budget details should also be completed well in advance of any vote so both the elected officials and the public can digest the details.
3. Reasonable Tax Burden
Taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society. Public officials need to be sure that the burden is not beyond what people can bear.
4. Maximize Efficiency
Government should always err on the side of saving tax dollars by improving performance, increasing labor output and automating processes to save labor costs. A better system delivers better service for taxpayers.
5. Grow Local Economy
Any initiative to spur economic growth should be well researched, planned, and openly discussed with information readily available to the public throughout the entire process. The public should know of any risks to raise taxes
6. Secure Safer Streets
Understand the needs of the police force and the needs of the community. Spending more tax dollars is not the only answer. Law enforcement must continue to partner with the community (churches, religious institutions, etc; neighborhood associations; community centers; etc.) to identify and mitigate criminal risk factors including poverty, drug addiction and unemployment.
7. End Culture of Corruption
People trust a government that is open and honest. We need our local governments to pass laws opposing nepotism and cronyism. Define government positions in local ordinance or state statute and publish the qualifications. Ensure politicians are abiding by all campaign laws and regulations. Publish labor contracts upon approval and make them easily available to the public.
8. Improve Student Outcomes
This includes more than test scores. We need to improve our students’ critical thinking skills and work ethic in and around the classroom. Graduation rates will improve. So will the quality of our graduates. Local governments should partner wherever they can to improve education for our kids.
9. Improve Community Health
Improved health means people enjoy longer, happier lives. Healthier people generally need fewer government services or subsidies, saving tax dollars. It is important for governments to partner with each other and with the private sector to create the healthiest community possible.
10. Adopt Best Practices
We need to identify best practices and transpose them to best fit our community. Where best practices do not exist, we should be fearless and blaze new trails. Learn what works for other local governments and mirror it. Identify what doesn’t work and be sure to avoid it. When there isn’t a specific example to follow, create your own.
