To the editor:

Proposition B stands for better government. When you look at the St. Louis County Charter, one of the primary functions of the council is to formulate the budget. The budget is all encompassing. Every department is affected by the budget.

To make good decisions, the St. Louis County Council needs information from each department. Sam Page has done everything possible to thwart that communication. In fact, last October, he issued an edict to the department heads that they were not to have any communications with members of the St. Louis County Council.

How can the St. Louis County Council make sound budgetary decisions without accurate information? We are in the red by 60 million dollars. We need to know where to cut to get our budget in line. Otherwise, by flying blind, we might be cutting money that provides vital services to St. Louis County residents.

Proposition B holds the department heads accountable to the St. Louis County Council. That way, we can get the information we need for sound budget decisions. Within Proposition B, there is a procedure to discharge a department head. They would have a hearing in front of the council. They would have the ability to cross examine the testimony against them, challenge evidence and present testimony and evidence on their behalf. The Page administration has fired personnel without any hearings. Additionally, the Page administration has tried to state that we would have the ability to fire the St. Louis County Police Chief under Proposition B. That is a blatant lie. It is the Board of Police Commissioners that hire and fire the chief.

Sam Page argues that would give the department heads eight bosses: the county executive plus seven county members. That argument misses the mark completely. Each and every elected official along with all the employees of St. Louis government work for the citizens of St. Louis County. In essence, we have close to a million bosses.

Proposition B makes the department heads accountable to the citizens through their elected representatives. Therefore, we can make good, sound decisions about our budget that would help us spend taxpayer dollars wisely.

Please vote in favor of Proposition B.

Mike Archer

Oakville

Editor’s note: Mike Archer is a member of the St. Louis County Council. He represents District 6, encompassing the majority of South County.