CROWN POINT | The Good Government Initiative wants to give county officials the credit -- or blame -- they deserve in the quest for cheaper, more efficient local government.
James Wieser, chairman of the Good Government steering committee, said Friday he hopes the committee will report to the public soon which Lake County government agencies are implementing recommendations to cut costs and end duplication of services and which officeholders are dragging their feet.
"It's up to those at the county to reduce spending in government," Wieser said. "We need to encourage them by developing some kind of a score card that says this is what the study recommended and here is where the offices rate in implementing it."
The Good Government Initiative is an effort by U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Ind., and the county's largest corporate taxpayers -- BP, Mittal Steel, NiSource, U.S. Steel and Whiteco -- to reduce public services costs. Representatives of those businesses and former county officials now serve on the initiative's steering committee as volunteers.
Maximus, a private consultant for the initiative, issued a 1,059-page study in February 2007 suggesting the elimination of 72 government jobs in Lake County. The report suggested local government savings for all offices would amount to more than $5 million.
Wieser said Sheriff Rogelio "Roy" Dominguez, Auditor Peggy Holinga Katona and the Lake County Board of Commissioners already have issued reports recently outlining their efforts to eliminate jobs and reduce costs.
Tom Dabertin, a consultant for county officials, said Friday the county recorder, treasurer, clerk, prosecutor and surveyor are planning to release similar reports in the near future and hopes the steering committee will give praise where it's due.
He said Katona's report, which states she already has cut two full-time and six part-time jobs by attrition and expects to eliminate at least four more full-time and two more part-time positions by the end of the year, was called a whitewash by skeptical critics
"Throwing a little praise for the auditor, commissioners and sheriff when they take these steps would help energize the process," he said.
