Commissioners disagree about budget at Tuesday evening hearing
In a lengthy but unproductive budget meeting Monday evening, the PI Commissioners made only slight progress amid much ado about the supposed shortfall in the budget. There was disagreement and discussion about even the amount of the shortfall, with little to support or reject the entire notion of a shortfall. Commissioner Donald Field said, ?It?s not as bleak as we thought it was going to be and is close to what we got last year.?
Commissioners threw out amounts ranging from $120,000 to $400,000 in shortfall amounts. Prosecutor Don McLennan addressed the commission saying, ?When delinquent tax money comes in, you?ll gain about $400,000 each year.?
That notion was backed by Treasurer Pat Cornett. ?Those delinquent taxes bring about $400,000 in each year.?
But it was as if the commissioners did not hear what was being said as they continued to pursue avenues to cut the budgets.
Chairman Carl Altman advised that Rogers City insurance agent Bob Peltz had made suggested changes in insurance coverage that amount to $70,000 a year savings, so that got kicked about the table while eventually commissioner Gary Nowak said, ?We?ve been here one hour and fifteen minutes and have accomplished nothing! If we don?t change our focus I?m going to leave. I have better things to do!?
COMMISSIONER WAYNE VERMILYA suggested a cap on the insurance rate coverage with the commissioners setting the example for themselves first. Commissioner Mike Darga was adamant about eliminating coverage for the commissioners, saying it would save $60,000 a year. Commissioner Alan Bruder said there was a need to go to the 1040 card with a $250 deductible. All had opinions on the matter.
Field asked for a consensus to freeze the insurance rates with a cap and shared 50 percent increases for those covered.
Field also wanted a consensus to accept the proposed building and zoning budget, and to adopt a proposal made by sheriff Terry Flewelling for the 911 fund to pay dispatchers? wages, and not the general fund.
As a final point of consensus, Field asked that a one percent raise and no more be offered to elected and appointed officials.
Also at issue was health insurance coverage for county employees. Some advocated the idea that the commissioners themselves not be covered while others were opposed to that notion.
The rising costs of insurance for employees was a concern that left the commissioners at odds as to an answer.
IT WAS generally accepted that the insurance would go as is for this year with the possibility of a cap being installed in the near future with perhaps the new increases being handled on a split percentage basis for those covered.
County department heads were present with their budgets, but due to the length of the discussions and stalemates, only several of the budgets were discussed.
The building and zoning department was represented by Jim Zakshesky, and his budget was given the nod of approval as he lowered his costs from $128,000 to $123,000.
The register of deeds budget was under heated discussion as commissioner Robert Schell questioned the imaging machine request, saying it was not at all necessary and would save $32,000.
Register of Deeds Janet Lamb, wanted the commissioners to know that she had not put that item in the budget, but it had been later added at commissioner Don Field?s request.
Lamb, who was first elected to office in 1984, explained it was unfair to make such judgments about her department when they had not responded to her invitations to visit and learn what it is her department does and how the business of the department is handled.
SHE EXPLAINED the camera she uses is very old and although it can be repaired if it breaks down, it would be difficult to achieve. Purchase of the same type of camera is not a possibility because they are no longer made. The new technology is something that will have to be faced eventually and Lamb has brought the information before the commissioners for the past four years. The new tech
Sheriff Flewelling was irate about the commissioners giving the deputies a five percent raise, saying, ?The sergeants are making more than the undersheriff! And you offer us a one percent raise? Keep it!? Flewelling said in desperation as he sat back down after pointing out the inequities involved in the offers.
More budget woes will be dealt with Wednesday evening.
by Gail Maggi, Staff Writer
