Yates voters will decide propositions

YATES COUNTY--When residents of Yates County fill out their ballots, Tuesday, Nov. 3, or before, they will not only be voting for the president, they will also be voting on two propositions that could help shape the future of county government. The first proposition asks residents if county legislators should have their terms extended from two years to four years. The second proposition would create the position of an appointed director of finance and change the role of the elected county treasurer position. Yates County voters will find both propositions on the reverse side of their election ballot, with the candidates for public office on the front.
"Some people think (the creation of a director of finance) would be taking away power from the treasurer and therefore the voters, however the treasurer will still have access to all financial records and will still have some oversight over the director of finance," said Yates County Treasurer and Administrator Nonie Flynn.
Elected as treasurer, Flynn was subsequently appointed as county administrator and currently holds both positions. In June this year, Flynn indicated she would not seek reelection for the treasurer position, and recommended the combination of a part-time treasurer with diminished responsibilities and a full-time director of finance to manage the financial matters for the county.
In Flynn's June letter to the county finance committee, she added, "Yates County is increasingly being required to administer various programs that are either unfunded or not adequately funded by the state and federal governments. Such mandates, together with the revenue constraints of the county, require the best financial administration possible. An appointed position of director of finance would ensure the effective management of our county's fiscal responsibilities. The legislature would require a director of finance to have professional qualifications and a professional background and would be able to provide increased transparency and better direction, control, and coordination of governmental finances."
At the June 8 legislature meeting, the lawmakers approved letting the voters decide on the change, 10-4.
Statewide, of the 57 counties in New York state, eight list the treasurer as the only finance-related position.
"[If there are problems with a treasurer] you can't wait four years to vote them out of office, that is $180 million potentially being mismanaged over that time," Flynn said.
Regarding the first proposition that would extend county legislator terms to four years from the current two, Flynn said she has no official position either way.
The propositions are as follows:
Proposition 1: Shall the local law enacted by the Yates County Legislature on June 8, 2020, entitled "A Local Law Providing for a Change in the Term of the Legislators on the Yates County Legislature", which modifies the terms of the Yates County Legislators so that no more than one-half (1/2) of said Legislators are elected in any given election year by staggering their terms and also amends the term length of the Yates County Legislators, as follows: (i) the four (4) Legislators elected in District 1 and the three (3) Legislators elected in District 2 shall serve four (4) year terms commencing January 1, 2022, and thereafter said terms shall be for four (4) years and (ii) the four (4) Legislators elected in District 3 and the three (3) Legislators elected in District 4 shall serve a two (2) year term commencing January 1, 2022, and thereafter said terms shall be for four (4) years, be approved?
Proposition 2: Shall the Local Law enacted by the Yates County Legislature on July 27, 2020 entitled "Local Law Retaining the Elected County Treasurer and Assigning Certain Powers and Duties to an Appointed Director of Finance", which establishes the Department of Finance, effective January 1, 2022, to be headed by a Director of Finance appointed by the Yates County Legislature and retains the elected position of County Treasurer; wherein certain powers and duties of the County Treasurer would be curtailed and assigned to the Director of Finance, be approved?
Early voting is currently underway until Nov. 1 and absentee ballots can be dropped off at the deposit box at the county building. On election day, polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.