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June 6, 2010

EDITORIAL: Mileage not the place to cut

Press-Republican

The headline in last Thursday's Press-Republican over the story about debate on whether Essex County supervisors should forfeit compensation for their mileage going to and from county meetings was labeled: "Going the extra mile for taxpayer." Surely, that grand gesture would be going the extra mile for the taxpayer. But it surely is not necessary.

Chesterfield Supervisor Gerald Morrow suggested that, in this moment of fiscal peril, the 18 town supervisors who hold a seat on the County Board of Supervisors give up their mileage payments until the crisis is over. It was a thoughtful and courageous offer — even coming from a supervisor who probably travels no more than 20 miles to get from his home to the county seat in Elizabethtown.

Supervisor Joyce Morency of St. Armand, who travels much farther, rebuffed the initiative. For her, the 90 miles she drives makes the suggestion impractical.

What the issue comes down to is, how much can we expect of our elected representatives? Can we expect them to donate their time? Essex County supervisors are paid $17,000 in base salary. In addition, they are paid disparate amounts by their towns — from about $15,000 to about $70,000. However, the 50 cents a mile to county meetings is a county matter only. If Morency has to drive 90 miles for every meetings — and other supervisors travel much farther still — that necessarily deducts a certain amount of gasoline money from her $17,000. That doesn't address the other consequences of adding mileage to her automobile.

Moriah Supervisor Thomas Scozzafava said he isn't putting in for mileage. For that, the people of Essex County should be grateful. That is a very generous gesture on his part to do what he can to ease the county's burden.

It is also a fine example for his colleagues. But that shouldn't obligate those colleagues to follow that example. Some are less well off than others. Holding public office should not be restricted to only those who can afford to drive themselves to meetings.

The supervisors would be wise to publicly discuss a temporary cut in their pay, if they think concessions are advisable. (They haven't had a raise in two years.) Then, everyone is assessed equally. But to make a policy over mileage is unfair. A supervisor putting 100 miles on their car and collecting that amount of compensation is not being treated equally to one who puts only 20 miles on and is willing to yield that much repayment.

We're not suggesting Morrow broached this difficult and sensitive subject only because of his proximity to Elizabethtown. On the contrary, he must have known he'd be risking the enmity of some of his colleagues by even bringing the topic to the floor.

But neither should Morency be scorned for not embracing the overture.

Each of the supervisors is looking for ways to help his or her town and county through this dreadful travail. This particular personal sacrifice, while commendable, should at the same time be a personal choice.

If the supervisors want to cut costs equitably, they should consider their pay.

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