The League of Women Voters of Benton and Franklin Counties supports bi-county cooperation in providing services and in planning for new facilities and programs. Benton County services should be located in the center of population. Should legal constraints prohibit future growth of services in the center of population, the League of Women Voters of Benton and Franklin Counties supports moving the county seat to Kennewick or changing state law to remove the legal constraints. (Bold position added in 2007.)
Budgets The League supports;
- having county financial publications, including budget summaries, available at all local public libraries. The summaries should be understandable and explain total planned revenue and expenditures.
- citizen involvement in the budget process
- the publication of the agenda of the County Commissioners' meetings.
- holding Benton County Commissioner meetings on budget planning and other topics of local interest in the Kennewick and Richland area.
Home Rule The League supports the concept of a home rule charter that would provide a separation of legislative and administrative functions for Benton and/or Franklin County. The goal of the charter should be to provide for a professional county executive, assessor, auditor, clerk, coroner, sheriff and treasurer. The number of commissioners could be expanded beyond the present three-person formula.
Jails and Courts The League supports:
- the county district court system or, when feasible, a bi-county district court system.
- continually improved procedures for handling juveniles.
- cooperation in Benton-Franklin county jail facilities, programs, communications, records and personnel.
- education, work release programs, and an exercise yard provided by the jail facilities.