THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 9, 1994 TAG: 9412080193
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 36 lines
Whether it needs them or not, Chesapeake is required by the state Constitution to employ a sheriff, a commonwealth's attorney, a clerk of Circuit Court, a commissioner of the revenue and a treasurer.
Always before, the state has paid all or most of the cost of operating the constitutional offices. But, as of July 1, more of that responsibility will be thrust upon Chesapeake taxpayers.
If these offices are going to be costing us more, it's fair to ask whether that's how we really want to spend our money. Jobs invented during the post-Revolutionary period may not be the most efficient way to meet present needs.
The functions of the sheriff have essentially been reduced to that of rent-a-cop and delivery service. Do we really need both a sheriff's department and a police department? Do the functions of the treasurer and commissioner of the revenue really require separate bureaucracies?
Recent campaigns for constitutional offices have had more do with which candidates conducted the most charity drives or threw the best office parties, than they did with on-the-job performance. That's an indication of how trivial they have become.
There seems to be great enthusiasm of late for amending constitutions. Perhaps we should take a look at the provision of the state Constitution requiring these offices. by CNB