Chelsa Wagner / Change for no good
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As Allegheny County confronts unprecedented challenges including reassessments, Port Authority service cuts, unemployment and a fund balance lower than that of many school districts, I find it deeply troubling that our county executive, Rich Fitzgerald, is placing a priority on moving the county's Weights and Measures function -- a $250,000 cost within a $1.5 billion budget -- to his office.
As the independently elected county controller, I strongly urge that we focus on fixing what is actually broken. It's unclear that moving this bureau to the executive will improve its function or save taxpayer money. But while this relatively small unit is in the spotlight, we could consider a real reform that would save money: returning Weights and Measures to the state.
Weights and Measures' mission is to protect the public by identifying errors and fraud that stem from improperly calibrated machines including gasoline pumps, food scales, scanners and parking meters. It is an auditing function, aligned best with the only department in county government with the purpose, professional standards, staff, tools and methodology to prevent waste, fraud and abuse: the controller's office. The Weights and Measures team operates on an annual rotation, using statistical sampling software within the controller's office, and posts its results online (transparency that was not accomplished when this fell under the catch-all Department of Administrative Services).
If a gas pump or deli scale doesn't work or has been tampered with, county residents deserve to know where to go with their concern. Having a department head's name on the inspection sticker (after an inspection is performed) is also nothing new. Prior to 2008, the name on the sticker was the chief inspector.
The controller's office is the most appropriate department in Allegheny County for this function of government. This was clear to council member Fitzgerald in 2008 when he sponsored legislation to "enhance" and "properly administer" Weights and Measures by moving it to the controller's office. As executive, Mr. Fitzgerald claims that "the proper reporting structure ... lies in the executive branch." But his plan would undermine the controller's independence and the proper administration that was important to him as a council member.
As controller, my mission is to find savings and promote transparency. I have yet to hear a factual argument that would indicate there is anything to be gained by moving this function. What deficiencies need to be addressed?
If the executive thinks there's a serious need to make changes, there is a real, money-saving solution available: return the Weights and Measures duties to the state Department of Agriculture, which performs these inspections in 51 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties. In 2009, Philadelphia made this move; Lancaster County did it in 2010.
We don't need a solution in search of a problem. Our problems are far too big to be contemplating a cosmetic change. Let's continue with what works, or consider a real change that would save real money.
First Published February 7, 2012 12:00 am
