As we mentioned yesterday, Grant County voters by a 2-to-1 margin decided Tuesday to downsize its county board from 38 members to 17.
It's a trend. Hopefully, Green County board members and residents are paying attention.
Wood County voters Tuesday finished the process of shrinking their county board, electing 19 supervisors. A November 2007 referendum cut a board of 38 members in half.
Sheboygan County's board went from 34 members to 25 in April 2007.
Also in 2007, the Waukesha County Board went from 35 members to 25, and the Green Lake County Board shrank from 21 to 19 members - although the board there cut its own membership by just two to avoid greater cuts the public might have instituted with a petition drive and vote.
A state law passed in January 2006 allows the size of county boards to be reduced once every 10 years outside of a census. Residents can petition for a referendum on county board reduction, or supervisors can vote on their own to eliminate board seats.
Clearly, it would be a much easier process for the county board to do the work. But elected officials generally aren't inclined to cut their own positions.
However, one new board member elected Tuesday, John Glynn in District 3, has said he would examine such a plan. On a board of 31 members, Glynn certainly couldn't make the change himself. He'll need a lot of help. That's where the public can come in, by at least pressuring discussion about change at the board level.
There is no need for 31 supervisors in Green County. In Wisconsin, county government merely supervises departments and administrates functions of the state government. County government makes no independent legislation.
Green County Board Chairman Art Carter said having a smaller board would result in more meetings, which could be a deterrent for some people running for election.
In the other counties that have reduced their boards, a smaller board usually means smaller committees, and that doesn't necessarily mean more work. It means more efficient work.
A smaller board also may alleviate an ongoing problem in Green County, which is a lack of candidates and contested races.
This year was a very competitive year as Green County Board elections go, and there were seven contested races out of 31. Fewer board seats should mean more contested races. And contested races add accountability to a board that currently has little when most incumbents face no challenge in elections.
Since 2006, there hasn't even been a whisper about consolidation from the board itself. With Glynn on board, hopefully the talk will start.
It's a trend. Hopefully, Green County board members and residents are paying attention.
Wood County voters Tuesday finished the process of shrinking their county board, electing 19 supervisors. A November 2007 referendum cut a board of 38 members in half.
Sheboygan County's board went from 34 members to 25 in April 2007.
Also in 2007, the Waukesha County Board went from 35 members to 25, and the Green Lake County Board shrank from 21 to 19 members - although the board there cut its own membership by just two to avoid greater cuts the public might have instituted with a petition drive and vote.
A state law passed in January 2006 allows the size of county boards to be reduced once every 10 years outside of a census. Residents can petition for a referendum on county board reduction, or supervisors can vote on their own to eliminate board seats.
Clearly, it would be a much easier process for the county board to do the work. But elected officials generally aren't inclined to cut their own positions.
However, one new board member elected Tuesday, John Glynn in District 3, has said he would examine such a plan. On a board of 31 members, Glynn certainly couldn't make the change himself. He'll need a lot of help. That's where the public can come in, by at least pressuring discussion about change at the board level.
There is no need for 31 supervisors in Green County. In Wisconsin, county government merely supervises departments and administrates functions of the state government. County government makes no independent legislation.
Green County Board Chairman Art Carter said having a smaller board would result in more meetings, which could be a deterrent for some people running for election.
In the other counties that have reduced their boards, a smaller board usually means smaller committees, and that doesn't necessarily mean more work. It means more efficient work.
A smaller board also may alleviate an ongoing problem in Green County, which is a lack of candidates and contested races.
This year was a very competitive year as Green County Board elections go, and there were seven contested races out of 31. Fewer board seats should mean more contested races. And contested races add accountability to a board that currently has little when most incumbents face no challenge in elections.
Since 2006, there hasn't even been a whisper about consolidation from the board itself. With Glynn on board, hopefully the talk will start.