Commissioners propose two plans for budget cuts
Board asking for input from county
ARENAC COUNTY — At the July 21 Arenac County Board of Commissioners (ACBC) meeting, District IV Commissioner Ronald Branda and District III Commissioner Michael Snyder presented to the board, county department heads and public two budget proposals in which they’ve been working on for the past few months.
Both proposals feature cuts to parts of departments and, in some cases, whole departments as well as individual budget reductions, furlough days and membership cancellations.
According to the board, neither budget plan will likely remain as is and will probably have additions and subtractions over the next few weeks. The board also says it welcomes any insight on the proposed budgets from citizens, county workers or board members, only asking that if you strongly oppose a specific cut that you have something in mind to replace the cut.
Snyder says without shedding some $200,000 from the budget over the next two years, the county would not survive 2012.
Below are the first drafts of the proposed budget plans.
Plan A
• MSU-Extension -
1. Cancel 4-H and leave the Agriculture position unfilled
2. Office staff to part-time status
Savings: $43,000
• Eliminate Marine Patrol
Savings: $3,000
• Eliminate Non-Millage Road Patrol
Savings: $8,700
• Eliminate School Resource Officer
Savings: $13,000
• Eliminate Animal Control
Savings: $38,000
• Close Building Department
Savings: $6,000
• Close parks at point of loss
Savings: $16,000 - $21,000
• 1% reduction in overall budget requests
Savings: $51,000
• 10% reduction in all contractual services
Savings: $20,000
Total: $203,700
Plan B
• MSU-Extension -
1. Cancel 4-H and leave the Agriculture position unfilled
2. Office staff to part-time status
Savings: $43,000
• Eliminate Marine Patrol
Savings: $3,000
• Eliminate Non-Millage Road Patrol
Savings: $8,700
• Eliminate School Resource Officer
Savings: $13,000
• 1% reduction in overall budget requests
Savings: $51,000
• 10% reduction in all contractual services
Savings: $20,000
• Furlough Days - 6 days
Savings: $36,000
• Reduction in per diem to $25
Savings: $3,500
• Cancel all subscriptions and memberships (non-mandated)
Savings: $23,000
• Reduce board of commissioners pay 10%
Savings: $2,000
• Reduce travel & mileage by 33%
Savings: $11,500
Total: $214,700