COUNTY AUDITOR SAYS FORCED PROGRAMS ARE TROUBLESOME

JACKSON - The growing trend of the federal and state governments to pass more programs and costs on to local governments is leaving county governments with big problems and no clear solutions, says Cape County Auditor H. Weldon Macke.

Macke, who has been active for years in the Missouri Association of Counties, recently returned from the annual meeting of its national counterpart, the National Association of Counties, held in Salt Lake City, Utah.

He explained that many of the same problems plaguing county governments are being able to provide health insurance, surviving without state and federal grants, child-care programs, meeting minimum jail standards, addressing problems of the elderly, and finding ways to dispose of solid waste as landfills are phased out.

"There seem to be plenty of problems facing everyone but no real clear solutions," said Macke.

Many counties are struggling with new federal guidelines that deal with civil rights and the rights of the handicapped, he said.

"There are all these government regulations without guidelines on how they should be implemented," said Macke. "And, they don't tell you what the consequences are for not complying or even how to completely comply."

In many instances, Macke said the only way local governments are able to learn of guidelines is after they are sued and court rulings interpret the federal laws.

The new law that took effect last year prohibiting discrimination against disabled individuals has caused some problems because of an unclear definition on who is disabled, said Macke. Some interpretations have cited people with drug problems as handicapped, and many large counties are in trouble for not hiring such people.

"I think everyone is tired of the federal government passing laws but not knowing what they are supposed to mean," said Macke.

Recycling was a big part of this year's meeting as a way of phasing out landfills, he said. He said NACO is encouraging Congress to ease restrictions on being able to turn waste products into energy.

"Many counties say they have more recycling material piled up than they have trash and don't know what to do with it," Macke said.

Macke serves on the taxation and finance committee of NACO. He said, with a reduction in grants and most governments struggling financially, there wasn't much for the panel to discuss this year.

Through that committee, Macke said he did have an opportunity to meet with former Missouri auditor James Antonio, who is chairman of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board based in Connecticut.

Macke said he is interested in efforts by Antonio's group to revise standards and guidelines for financial statements and reports of local governments, and is hoping to provide input for rewriting the standards.

Macke has been auditor of Cape County since 1971.

Another issue drawing more attention this year was ethics guidelines for county governments.

Several sessions focused on changes in the federal government's job-training program. Initially, the program focused on re-training individuals who lose their job and need to be retrained to develop new skills. Now, Macke said, the focus is more toward all unemployed individuals.

Among others attending from the area were Doc Kester, presiding commissioner of St. Francois County and a former MAC president, and Elizabeth Faulkenberry, presiding commissioner of Jefferson County who is serving as president of MAC this year.