County PIOs get raises.

The Journal reports this morning that four County PIOs are getting raises. County officials are quoted as saying, the County is in good financial shape, compared to city and state governments, and can afford the raises.

Which misses the point entirely.

The question is not whether we can afford the raises; the question what are we getting for our investment? The County is paying more than a half million dollars a year to field a team of eight PIOs; two of whom make more than $90K. To do what?

It is clear to any but the most casual observer, that PIOs are the first line of defense for corrupt and incompetent politicians and public servants. Whatever else they do, they will first "spin" the truth in favor of those they work under, at the expense of those they work for.

For government that is truly of the people, by the people, and for the people, there first needs to be the people. And if they are to exercise any real control over the spending of their power and resources, they must be fully informed with information that is candid, forthright, honest, and timely; none of which is the stated goal of any government PIO Office (I will bow to controverting evidence).

None of those four qualifiers apply; not one. First and foremost, PIOs are there to "spin" the truth. There is no "spinning" of the truth which does not corrupt it.

PIO staffs are not increasing due to public demand, they are increasing to fill a need that not only fails to reflect the public interests, but in fact, works against the public interest.

PIOs who serve politicians and public servants at the expense of the people, are not worth 90 cents a year, much less, 90,000 dollars a year.

APS spends closer to a million dollars a year on its effort to spin the truth; their top PIO makes more than a hundred thousand dollars a year. She herself, admitted that her main job is to publish a world class school district calendar.

Which begs a question; how many students even know there is a calendar much less benefit from it? It isn't so much how much she makes, but what are we getting for our investment?

The answer; spun truth. Spun truth, which is not the truth at all.