County Watch
by G. L. Penney

  At an orientation meeting for new county legislators on November 22, I was given a book of 194 pages entitled "Policy Handbook." This document was compiled over many years by my predecessors in county government. It describes in great detail what they expect me to do and how to do it.

 This book identifies the several elected official that I may be working with: the county judge, district attorney, treasurer, sheriff, county clerk, coroners. It also identifies 18 county directors and department heads that I may participate in appointing from time to time, as well as the boards of directors of 35 community agencies such as the Industrial Development Agency, the Local Development Corporation, the Cornell Cooperative Extension, the Finger Lakes association, and the Tioga opportunities Program. It is small wonder that some people think we should have a county manager, but my constituents tell me that they do not want to pay for one. I must agree with my constituents.
 
I believe the ultimate solution to ever higher county taxes is to reduce the scope of government to something nearer its original purpose: law enforcement, county highways, and county poor farms.