November 18, 2009 - 11:42 a.m. EST

The county is projecting about a $960,000 to $1.3 million budget shortfall between the state funding cuts, low interest earnings, lower property taxes and falling revenues from other sources. The proposal to eliminate all non-mandated services is a meat-axe approach that eliminates some of the county’s most needed services.

Some of the non-mandated services suggested to be cut are: Courthouse security at $146,842, Friend of the Court security at $23,978, Michigan State University Extension at $134,431, Planning Commission at $11,550, Thumb Narcotics Unit (TNU), emergency services at $75,744, veteran services at $72,744, Economic Development Commission at $53,000, parks at $5,000 and remonumentation at $4,000. The initial proposal for cutting non-mandated services would save approximately $440,000. The Nov. 3 revised plan is expected to save about $227,193. This proposal will save about $519,119+ the Sirolli program while it may actually improve services.

The objective is not just to balance the budget, but rather to balance the budget with the least reduction to the services needed by the population. Please consider some variation of the following:

Cuts include: $275,680 combining emergency preparedness with court security and moving the Friend of Court into courthouse, $65,000 combining county clerk and register of deeds offices, $50,000 eliminated corporate councel, $5,000 county park, $4,000, re-monumentation, $11,962, County Planning Commission, $107,477+ from economic development/MSU Extension/Sirolli program for cuts of $519,119+.

These items were not cut: Veterans services ($72,780_ combining this program with another program (such as county planning or adding both to the economic opportunity group) to share office space and secretarial staff could reduce costs and provide better service, further Community Corrections ($10,800) the additional jail time will cost far more money. Liquor/Traffic Enforcement ($4,398) the fines imposed are more than the costs.

Reasoning behind cuts and combinations:

•Reconsider moving the Friend of Court office into the county courthouse building and combine the emergency preparedness with courthouse security using the state’s contribution for court security along with federal or state grant money to provide the funding. A potential savings of $275,680 from reducing courthouse security $146,843, Friend of the Court security $23,978 and emergency services $104,859. This would be more efficient for emergency services as it provides more than one trained person in an emergency.

•Combine the county clerk and register of deeds offices, eliminating initially about $65,000 per year with additional savings as employees are cross-trained. Several counties have had these combined for many years.

•Elimination of the corporate counsel position, which would return it to the Prosecuting Attorney’s office, saving $50,000 plus expenses per year.

•Combining the Tuscola Enterprise ($unknown), MSU Cooperative Extension ($135,600), Economic Development Corporation ($57,877). (All three are oriented toward economic development and could function more cost-efficiently by being combined). County park(s) and remonumentation (recreation and tourism are a vital part of economic development and should be part of the economic opportunity program) into one large program with 1) an appropriation of $86,000 (to carry the program through August) and 2) appointing a new economic opportunity commission to coordinate the economic development programs we have and to create a new plan to restore economic vitality.

Unemployment was 18.3% in July 2009 and rising. If you include those unemployed or underemployed, who are not in the official unemployment count, the county has about 1 of 3 unemployed or underemployed, which is worse than the Depression.

Only eight of 83 Michigan counties had higher unemployment than Tuscola (FDIC RECON 8/04/2009 report). With Michigan having the highest unemployment in the country, it is not a great leap to say Tuscola is one of the highest unemployment counties in the country. Several Michigan counties have less than 10% unemployment with neighbors like Saginaw 13.3%, Bay 12.5% and Midland 9.9%.

The federal and state governments do have an effect, but the lower rates in other counties proves counties’ actions and inactions do have a major effect on unemployment. The unemployment in turn affects other aspects of the local economy. The damages and consequences of unemployment include: broken homes (is there anyone in the county that has not seen loved ones and friends move away due to lack of opportunity here); collapse of housing prices; the foreclosures; the lack of sales in businesses; affordable health care. The effects of unemployment will last for years.

Combining the economic development programs together with a budget of only $200,000 will require a re-evaluation of what is working in the new economy and replacing the no-longer working with innovative ideas like telecommuting, Internet and tourism to restore economic vitality to the county.

Three other items that should be considered while working on the budget are: 1) Being a part of a larger buying group will allow savings on purchases and encourage more local purchases.

2) One of every five people in the county are disabled. Social Security Disability allows the disabled to earn $980 per month and continue their disability income. We need a program to encourage this by helping them find work and serve as a coordinating program similar to what senior centers provide to seniors.

3) If you were to put the line item budget on the Internet with last year’s budget, the department heads request, the administrators’ proposed funding and commissioners’ current proposal along with a blog like Tuscolatoday.com where the public and especially county employees have the opportunity to give the comments and ideas, they might provide some good ideas on where to find waste or expenses that have little support. County employees concerned about layoffs and taxpayers concerned about tax increases are your best allies.

Warren Taylor

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