County exec needs to retain hiring control
Steve Levy was sworn in as Suffolk County Executive in January, 2004. On Stage, L-R Levy, Michael LoGrande, Patrick Halpin and Robert Gaffney. Credit: Daniel Goodrich
Five Suffolk County elected officials are trying to promote the idea that they, rather than County Executive Steve Levy, should have the final say as to whether vacant budgeted positions in their respective departments should be filled ["Let Suffolk elected officials do their jobs," Opinion, Dec. 13].
It might come as a shock to our disgruntled officials to learn that in the real world outside of government, the chief executive officer is also the chief fiscal officer responsible for balancing the budget, and freezing hiring if necessary. Giving up that authority to department heads would invite budgetary chaos - in government as in business - and is fiscally irresponsible.
It might be a good idea for them to try to do more with less, as so many of us taxpayers are now compelled to do.
It is also a bit disingenuous for them to appeal to us for support at this stage of the game, since many of them, including Levy, have achieved their positions as the result of backroom deals allowing them to run unopposed in our so-called "elections," which have denied every Suffolk voter any other choice.
James J. McDonald
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