Travis County Commissioners Court
July 17, 2007
Item 22
Let's go to 22. 22. Consider and take appropriate action on request for Travis County to join the national association of counties. Let me just say that years and years ago we did belong to the naco. And it may have been what five years ago? Maybe longer than that. Texas association of counties, we are kind of lucky now in that one of the national officers is the county judge of tarrant county. On gasb with had an opportunity to work with judge whitley, and he's at the national conference now running for president. But they requested that we rejoin this group and they tried to work on county issues nationwide. And what's become clear from the -- from the gasb matter is that to try as we wish to isolate ourselves from the rest of the state and nation. In fact we are -- we are painfully reminded from time to time that we are part of those big groups. So I don't know that they necessarily lobby but they do stay involved with the county issues nationwide. And because they have a presence in washington d.c., that gives them clout that an individual county doesn't have. The membership fee is based on your population and according to their letter ours would be $14,000. And -- and if we join this year, my request would be that we prorate that. And which they shouldn't mind doing. So the annual amount would be 14,000 bucks. If we join I think that one member of the court should commit to try to get more actively involved than we have been historically. What happened before I think is that as a result of -- of changes in composition of the Travis County Commissioners court, we sort of got out of it and really ended up kind of just sending our dues. Unfortunately I'm not good about going to stuff like that and Margaret is real active in the southern county, south Texas association. If you remain involved, then I think you get out more than you invest. But if you don't remain involved, normally it's really just annually sending your paycheck and not benefiting. >> there were a couple of other benefits that I think that they developed the pharmacy program over the last few years and the pharmacy program appears to be really good. I don't know how it would work with us as a self insured entity. That's something to look at. On a substantive level their ability to do comparative research across the country between different county governments and different state structures on issues like affordable housing, air quality which we were just dealing with, criminal justice, energy management, health, land use, I think we could really benefit from those sort of comparative national research resources. >> transportation, I don't know whether that was on that list. >> transportation and water quality as well. >> stuff like that. >> many support services regarding internal administrative programs like health care, retirement. >> [indiscernible] some people as well. So it is a chance, I remember, judge, that -- that when we discontinued our membership was when the county was really in a downturn, we were really having difficulty getting money, thought well it kind of cut back on all of those things. I think everything that you said is right. We can get creative ideas, coalitions to work with you. It's -- it's useful. If you decide you want to join this year, I could pay this year's dues out of a salary savings with my budget with the idea to budget it next year. If you want to do that, money is the issue I will be glad to do that. I think a county our size, it is valuable for us to have a national presence. But I also judge that one or more people need to go to the meetings to be involved. It's a real opportunity as active as judge whitley is. That I think is a nice time. He would very much -- he spoke to me as well. He would very much like Travis County to join and get involved. >> back to cuc [indiscernible] >> I would be happy to be physically present and involved with naco. >> we post all of the meetings and things on cuc. So we can all participate. It's just that at least one of us ought to if we go down this road at the same time I don't know that we have been real good about evaluating our presence in participation. We could commit to join a couple of years and then look at -- see if -- see what benefits we are getting. But the issues, county issues are becoming more and more important. And I think that we all are appreciating the need for us to sort of collaborate a lot more than we have done historically to have a better presence, greater presence at the state level as well as at the national level. So -- >> that's right. >> do -- would we use the home depot, the office depot? I mean, if we were part of this, would we use this office depot 71% discount? So we are already using that, that's not anything that we get out of it. All right. So -- so we have an interlocal agreement with naco, we already get to use this? We are not even belonging? We are using this and not even members right now. >> so -- so we are using -- what about prescription drug discount card? >> [indiscernible] >> something to provide for those who don't have health insurance, also can be utilized for those in [indiscernible] valley for pharmaceuticals during their stay. >> the first challenge would be able to find out what programs and services are available through our residents to naco. I don't know that we have kept up with that historically. We have left them alone. They have left this alone. >> the situation I guess that the judge brought up, what would that be at this time of year as far as funding this to become member -- members again, that would be about what 70 -- >> more than half. >> 65, 700 -- 7,000. >> [indiscernible] >> January 1, January 1st. >> most likely be a 7,000 pro rata. >> if you vote on it, give me the application and everything, I can do that through -- >> then -- figure out through January on put it in the next budget. >> motion to join and if I take [indiscernible] up on their offer to cover the rest of this year's membership fee and ask p.b.o. To put next year's fee in the budget for us. >> second. >> also -- part of this is our commitment to find out what programs and services are available through naco. >> we need to know that, yeah. >> fully utilize it. >> and have some travel money available so people can go, part of it is the networking up there. So -- >> we can be better members than we were years and years ago. >> some members of the court like moya. >> national -- >> it varied, didn't it? >> sitting on the -- >> okay. >> [indiscernible] >> nuts and bolts of county government here. Do you like that wording, joe? More discussion on the motion? >> Commissioner? Commissioner Gomez? >> all in favor? >> show Commissioners Gomez, Davis, eckhardt, yours truly voting in favor. Voting against Commissioner Daugherty.
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Last Modified:
Wednesday, July 18, 2007, 18:30 AM