EATON COUNTY, Mich. (WLNS) — Massive selections have been made in Eaton County Friday, the place the Board of Commissioners made critical cuts to their subsequent price range.
The county is principally ranging from scratch with its price range. Officers mentioned they have been getting by, however they see the writing on the wall and adjustments should be made, or else they’re going to go into the purple. The fee meant enterprise, and so did Eaton County Controller Connie Sobie.
“I’m going to get very angry today, and I did talk to Chair Mott about that; he knows I don’t care if I lose my job,” Sobie mentioned.
Eaton County Board of Commissioners Chairman Jim Mott began the assembly off with a warning.
“We need to make deep cuts, and I’m not talking surfacey cuts here and there,” mentioned the Chai.
He mentioned the county’s revenue is lower than its bills. This comes after Might’s election, the place 57% of voters in Eaton County voted “no” on a millage which might have raised taxes by about $12 a month on common.
The Board began its cuts by exterior businesses.
30% minimize to the Group Psychological Well being collaboration
25% minimize to the Barry-Eaton District Well being Division
75% minimize to the Eaton County Well being and Rehabilitation Providers
75% minimize to the Capital Space United approach important providers – preserve their funds to the 2-1-1 program ($20,000)
100% minimize to the Tri-County Metro Narcotics workplace
100% minimize the Michigan Division of Well being and Human Providers
30% minimize to MSU Extension
The commissioners did vote to maintain funding for the Tri-County Workplace on Growing old, which gives Meals on Wheels to seniors, in addition to the Eaton Conservation District and Capital Space Group on Governments.
Nonetheless, Commissioner Mark Murdy mentioned he want to see extra cuts.
“No cut, no cut, no cut, are we going to continue doing no cuts? Our job here is to make cuts,” mentioned Murdy.
Then, the Board moved on to division cuts:
Greater than $100,000 from the Eaton County Drain Workplace
Greater than $800,000 from Eaton County Trial Courts
Greater than $100,000 from the Eaton County Controller’s Workplace
Just below $500,000 from the Eaton County Prosecutor’s Workplace
Just below $2 million from the Eaton County Sheriff’s Workplace
“The impacts here are awful for every department and the community.” Sobie continued, “We’re not going to be able to cut enough to not cut public safety.”
In complete, public security took an virtually $2.5 million hit. Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd says public security makes up 65% of the price range, and the cuts to his workplace will convey main delays to the county’s justice system.
“Us as elected officials now have to look at this and think, What do we have to do in order to keep our offices running?” mentioned Lloyd.
The County price range is round $50 million, and the objective at the moment was to chop $5 million. By the top of the assembly, they’d completed that. These have been all proposals, although. Nothing is finalized till the Fee approves the ultimate price range in September.
In late June, departments and businesses may have the prospect to make their circumstances to maintain funding.
