The Southeastern Public Service Authority is about to undergo new management – as appointed by the governor.
Gov. Tim Kaine signed Del. John Cosgrove’s HB 1872 today which calls on the governor to appoint SPSA’s board vice the board being led by one elected official from each locality it serves.
“I am very pleased that the governor saw fit to sign this bill,” said Cosgrove. “Clearly the governor understands that how SPSA is currently being managed is unacceptable. And, by not offering any amendments, he is making a strong statement that the bill is appropriate as-is.”
The bill, which unanimously passed both the House and the Senate in late February, eliminates elected officials from serving on the board and ensures that the board members have experience in business and management.
“SPSA has been a disaster for many years. This is going to require them to be very forthright and honest about how they do business,” said Cosgrove in a recent interview with Tidewater News. “[SPSA board] decisions need to be made by people who understand business and the bond markets and the bottom line.”
The passage of this bill is part of Cosgrove’s three-year crusade to make SPSA more efficient at handling taxpayer money.
“We need businesspeople running things, not political people,” he said.
According the Virginian-Pilot, SPSA is about $240 million in debt and has a $16 million budget deficit. It has proposed to hike municipal disposal fees to $245 per ton of garbage, which would be the highest rate in the nation.
