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ZINGER (Cont,'d.):�o do this. They recognize otunitico, but they cannot . <br />. enforce 1t.. Eliminating jobs o politically very dangerous. <br /> WAGNER: You favor a budget commission. Possibly elected? <br /> SINGER: I don't know any other way, because if they are appointed by <br /> the mayor they could hardly bang heads with the mayor on the <br /> • budget. . . <br /> WAGNER: Can you give us any examples.where this type of proposal has <br /> been effective? . <br /> • ZINGER: On the national level_the Hoover Commission type of situation. <br /> Perhaps a local county commission would have a little more <br /> • •power, other than just. to recommend. But at the very least that I think is about <br /> the•major analogy that I can draw. What this amounts to is a Hoover Commission, <br /> an efficiency committee, or whatever you want to call it, even if they do nothing <br /> more than bring to the attention of the public these opportunities to lower costs. <br /> . Say, for instance, the commission comes out with a statement "we can, eliminate <br /> five thousand dollars a month. on labor in this department", and then you leave it <br /> . at that. If the department head does not do anything about it then the public in <br /> general will judge whether that department head was right or wrong in not paying <br /> attention to the recommendation. • <br /> HENRY: ' Mr. Zinger, referring to your item - county manager form of <br /> _ government - I would like to ask a question. Is it an elected <br /> . office or is it appointed? If is is appointed who does the appointing? <br /> ZINGER: It is an appointed position. The man is hired by the board. <br /> The board is elected by the people and it is the board's job <br /> to find and to hire a professional manager. <br /> HENRY: Then you are referring to a mayor-council, city-manager form? <br /> ZINGER: . A city-manager form, not a mayor form. The mayor is usually <br /> not appointed, he is usually elected. It is essential that this <br /> It • man is hired by the board, is an employee of the board, where he is responsible <br /> for getting results. He is delegated authority to get results. <br /> FUKUDA: I find the discussion of the watch dog commission very interest- <br /> ing, but would this not add to the cost of government. Can't <br /> the board. perform this function without adding another commission, another set • <br /> Of elected officers, and another set of names on the- payroll. <br /> • ZINGER: It depends on what you pay them compared to what they save the <br /> county. The board isn't doing it to the extent;I would like to <br /> see it done. It is worth a try. This would not be a .full-time or hardly a part <br /> • time job. It would amount to reviewing the budget however frequently it comes out. <br /> Perhaps a semi-annual meeting. If you pay each individual $100 a day for one day <br /> compared to cost savings it would be a very cheap sort of thing. . <br /> . FUKUDA: , You do not foresee this as a continuing commission? <br /> ZINGER: If it works. <br /> FUKUDA: Would you give it implementing powers other than study and <br /> investigative powers? <br /> • ZINGER: .I, personally, would favor giving it some veto power or some- <br /> thing more than just public opinion. In other words, the first <br /> thing they can do is arouse public opinion. If the county administration doesn't <br /> take advantage of the suggestion then it is up to the public to, react. I, iter- • <br /> • ' sonally, would favor giving it some veto power over a 'budget such. that it would <br /> then require more support by-the board, or referendum to the .people, or something <br /> else, before the budget is adopted., . • <br /> CHAIRMAN: Would you say that the audit commission would come under the <br /> manager or the council? You are saying that there is an audit <br /> eommisoion of some. kind. Who does this commission watch, the council or the <br /> manager? ,• • <br /> ..20. - ' . <br />