Missoula County opposes HB 699: Allow sheriffs to have expenditure control over sheriff’s office budget, up for hearing this afternoon in the House Local Government Committee. HB 699 is an attempt to bypass the county commissioners’ authority over budgeting. Commissioners, in order to adopt a budget, must go through a lengthy public process, including multiple budget meetings where they weigh the needs of all departments presented to them by elected officials and appointed department heads. This process ensures that all expenditures for the next year are open and transparent. Allowing any elected official or department head to then circumvent this process by choosing to spend public funds in any manner they choose removes the right of the public to participate in their government.
Representative Thane,
ReplyDeleteMissoula County opposes HB 699: Allow sheriffs to have expenditure control over sheriff’s office budget, up for hearing this afternoon in the House Local Government Committee. HB 699 is an attempt to bypass the county commissioners’ authority over budgeting. Commissioners, in order to adopt a budget, must go through a lengthy public process, including multiple budget meetings where they weigh the needs of all departments presented to them by elected officials and appointed department heads. This process ensures that all expenditures for the next year are open and transparent. Allowing any elected official or department head to then circumvent this process by choosing to spend public funds in any manner they choose removes the right of the public to participate in their government.
Please oppose HB 699.