Accountability, Politics and Independence

It is always difficult to create the best organization to provide government services. Many different structures have been created to remove politics from decisions made about the services. In some jurisdictions sheriffs and police chiefs are elected to give the agencies independence from politics, but this creates a different type of political battle at budget time when these elected officials can make an independent case to the public for a larger share. Another organizational model is to create an independent commission to direct the service such as a development commission or a library foundation.

There is another side to this puzzle. Some of the solutions to keep politics out of decision-making and provide the best service also remove the organization from accountability. There is no question that elected officials are accountable to the voters. When a barrier is created to this accountability, e.g. a commission, that link is broken. While voters may still blame the elected officials for poor decisions, the elected officials may have no control because of the independence of the commission.

During my career I have audited several of these types of organizations. I continue to believe that it is not the structure but the people that make the difference. There is a constant search for the perfect balance between accountability and independence and politics. Here is an audit and news story that illustrates that dilemma. This is a case where the commission is appointed by the governor with the consent of the state senate. The mayor along with the commission oversee police operations.