County Commission | The Magazine February 2017 | Page 8

FROM THE COVER
2017 Session
“One of the biggest
challenges we face
is funding our state
government, and
when I say state
government I
include educa-
tion and state
services. One
of the things
that we have
found through
this budget
reform com-
mission is that
we are taxing
the people of
Alabama from
a 20 th century
perspective.
We need to take a
serious look at how
we receive revenues
from the taxpayers
and make a deter-
mination whether or
not this is the best
way for us to be
fair to the taxpayers
as well as get the
maximum amount
of benefit out of the
revenue.”
Transportation
Funding
“I would like to
see funding for our
infrastructure in the
state. Because in
2015-16 we started
talking about the
infrastructure needs
we have, going all
over the state listen-
ing to county com-
have really done is
just put a Band-Aid
on the problem.
We’ve done a lot of
good work on the
infrastructure, but
it’s all been off of
borrowed money.
We need to sit
down and look at
a long-term plan
SPEAKER MCCUTCHEON
on the
issues
missions, local of-
ficials, mayors, etc.
about the problems
we face funding
our infrastructure.
I think we’ve made
some significant
progress by educat-
ing the public and
the Legislature on
the situation we find
ourselves in, and I
would like for us to
continue that debate
and discussion."
Next Steps
"For the last 10
years of my term as
a legislator, all we
that will take care
of not only the lo-
cal issue that every
county’s facing, but
the state-level issues
that we have."
Pension Reform
“Every year that we
come into session,
we have a request
from the state
retirement system to
increase funding, to
make the contribu-
tion whole for state
employees.… RSA
is operating at a
minimal administra-
tive cost; so I don’t
think it’s right for
us to turn around
As for his work as speaker, McCutcheon
acknowledged his responsibility to keep the legislative
process functioning. “I feel like I’m serving the
legislators more,” he said. “When we accomplish
things, it’s just a good feeling. I like to promote good
will, a positive-type working environment.”
Face facts. Work together. Take the long view.
8 | COUNTY COMMISSION
and point fingers of
blame at each other.
I’m committed as
speaker of the house
to work directly
with RSA to find
solutions to make
our state retirement
system financially
secure.”
ACCA
“The Association
of County Commis-
sioners has been a
great organization
to work with. They
are always ready to
come to the table,
sit down and talk
about the issues,
and carry the mes-
sage back to each
county and be a
good resource for
the county govern-
ments and the state
government.”
Unfunded
Mandates
“It is unfair for the
Legislature to pass
unfunded mandates
down to local gov-
ernments. Any type
of legislative mandate
that is passed down
to the local county
governments must
be vetted by the
Legislature to make
sure it does not place
an undue financial
burden on local gov-
ernments – not only
the counties but the
cities as well.”
Working More
Effectively with
Members of
the House of
Representatives
“There needs to be
a collaborative spirit
between county
commissioners and
state legislators.
We need a good
working relation-
ship and respect for
what we do. And
we need to under-
stand each other
better so we can
talk through some
of the issues that
we’re facing, rather
than the counties
doing their thing and
the state legislators
doing their thing and
we’re not working
together.”
Those were the themes McCutcheon cited again
and again as he spoke of 2017’s stout challenges.
“I’m looking at things long term, not just a year-to-
year fix,” he said from his Statehouse office. “I’ve been
here for 10 years, and I’ve seen enough of that. And I
just feel like we can do better. The people of Alabama
deserve better from their government.” n