On the razor’s edge: What are the benefits, shortfalls of budget reductions in Missaukee County?

Rick Charmoli | Cadillac News Missaukee Michigan State Extension Secretary Judy Brinks gets a mailing ready to go recently. BrinksŐ position at the MSU extension is one of many that could see a reduction in hours if proposed budget cuts are enacted by the Missaukee County Board of Commissioners.

For nearly 14 years Judy Brinks has been employed at the Michigan State Extension in Missaukee County.

Although Brinks is happy with her job and her boss is too, she still might end up losing it as a result of budget reductions. It is no secret that economic times in Michigan are tough and the same can be said about northern Michigan.

Although Missaukee County has had to make reductions for the past couple years it has not really affected staff or services. This year, however, reductions proposed by the Board of Commissioners are doing both.

Proposed reductions include collecting only the Kiwanis paper trailer at the recycling center, combining the Michigan State Extension 4-H director’s duties with the extension director as well as reducing hours of the soil erosion director, MSU Extension secretary, assistant custodian, planning director, probate/probation officer, district court clerk, appraiser, building inspector and building inspector secretary. Cuts also include eliminating one deputy county clerk.

On Tuesday, the board was scheduled to meet and vote on the proposed 2008 and its reductions. Recently, some new ideas and information has been presented so it appears that the board will most likely delay voting on the budget.

With that in mind, Commissioner Dean Vivian believes unless various departments, employees or residents can come up with creative ways to generate revenues, the reductions are a necessity.

Pro:

By Dean Vivian

Missaukee County Commissioner/Finance Committee Chair

Missaukee County has been very fortunate over the years with good employees and services supplied with reasonable and managed expenses.

Over the course of the last couple of years, this county government has had to stretch itself with fewer supplies, less training, and delaying of some much needed maintenance and repair projects. Increased operating costs, including utilities, employee benefits, and court related expenditures, have now strained our budget to the point of reductions in services and personnel to balance our budget. All of the Missaukee County departments have had input into these challenges and have worked with the Commissioners on the 2008 budget.

This joint effort to these challenges resulted in new revenue streams, changing past practices, thinking out of the box past old visions, and sacrificing in some financial areas to lessen the impact on personnel and services. Some of these personnel changes are in the elimination of positions, while many are in reduction of hours.

This effect to minimize job eliminations and services is a blend in trying to keep past knowledge and experience to also meet our future challenges through managed transition for the coming years.

Con:

By David Stroud

Missaukee Michigan State Extension Director

I have been asked to discuss what the negative effects of the cuts to our office would be.

The pros vs. the cons, the pros of the cuts are simple, they save some money that will be used to help to balance the county budget. The cons are not simple. A part time secretary and a part time 4-H leader for our office would completely disrupt the office. Our office has been working closely with the Missaukee Board of Commissioners in a joint effort to find ways to preserve our office staff and the 4-H programs, and we are still optimistic that a satisfactory agreement will be reached prior to Jan. 1 of 2008. If not, the following steps might have to be taken