Martha McLeod

There is no clear reason to increase the number of County Commissioners in Grafton County. County Government has always functioned as a non partisan entity with collaboration across the parties involved. But, the main downside in this proposed legislation, HB 1693, is the direct financial impact on the County budgets from added salaries and benefits costs. More commissioners mean more salaries, benefits, and potentially increased administrative overhead, directly impacting county taxpayers. A larger board (5 members vs. 3) can mean more difficulty reaching consensus, especially with partisan divides that may exist, and an overall slower decision-making processes for county business. With more members, individual accountability might decrease, and it could become harder to pinpoint responsibility for specific decisions or budget issues. And, more members can lead to the formation of voting blocs, potentially creating more internal political conflict rather than a unified governance-which is counter to what we are trying to achieve in Grafton County.