Marinette County Budget Games

M C Raines

It is with gut wrenching anguish that I review the "deep cuts in every area" proposed by Mr. Corbielle and rubber stamped by the finance committee. I ask when is Marinette County going to get serious about “across the board” budget cuts and control and not simply follow Mr. Corbielles support of those departments and programs he perceives as important and cuts into those departments he does not support.

If the Marinette County Board is truly serious about controlling the budget over the long term, and still providing essential services for the citizens of Marinette County, I ask the following questions:

Why are there cuts in only a few departments when clearly other departments should also contribute to budget control. With a reduction in staffing why is � of a position not being cut from human resources, why in the county administrators secretary not being cut to � time, why is � of a position not being taken from the clerk of courts, why not � a position from child support, the district attorneys office? I understand there are 5 secretaries working for the sheriffs department, why not reduce that by one position?

The budget for the Marinette county jail staffing is one of the largest in the county � why is there not a 10% staff reduction there? They baby sit people locked in cells � surely staffing can be reduced in that area.

Does Marinette Count really “need” forest patrol or parks patrol? Why not eliminate the forest patrol and parks patrol positions and have the sheriffs department answer emergency calls within those areas. They are out there riding around anyway. If the sheriffs department would cut all non essential, non emergent services they would have plenty of time to take up for the parks and forest patrol. For example, eliminate any snowmobile patrol, ATV patrol and boat patrol � these are sports for the rich. Eliminate all extra programs at the sheriffs department that cost time and money � such as diving, dogs and nite out!

I believe the sheriffs department delivers papers to people for court � why not have private groups do this. I would think someone would be willing to do this. The sheriffs department should also not go to minor accidents or spend so much time writing tickets. There are hundreds in the paper every week � why not stop this practice and only write tickets for extreme violations at accidents etc. This would also be less for the courts so the court staff can be reduced as well.

Stop going to non emergency calls in the communities that have their own cops � have the people wait until their own cop comes to work to report minor things. Think of the time they would have to do other things.

Why not return the 3 police operators to the city that the county took on last year and also return any money the city gave the county, minus the wages and benefits already paid to the three girls. Then eliminate the dispatch supervisor job � this will save 4 positions over the long term, add up that savings! Also, reduce the staffing in the radio center � remove the TV, stop the wedding planning, the head on the counter when tired, Avon selling, house selling, checkbook balancing, computer game playing, nail paining and so on and the staff can be reduced and they will still have time to spare! This will not happen simply because this is one of Corbielles favored areas.

With further reductions in staffing I also envision a � time reduction in staffing in the computer department � less people to support means less people necessary! Why not a salary reduction for all department heads � say 5%? In the next contract period every employee must be forced to pay at least 10% of their health insurance costs. I understand they pay 2 � 3 % now? What a joke � 10% must be the minimum!

Lets get to the county board � why are they so against a $25 reduction in their pay? It all adds up � if they were serious about cost cutting they would be all for it! Why not reduce the number of committees and number of committee members. Less committees, less members means less money paid out for people attending meetings. More usually gets done with less people anyway and more savings!

Why dont we see reductions in the assessment department, land department, treasurers department? Why not eliminate the print shop and contract with private industry for printing services. Less long term cost to the county, more income for local business.

Why not implement a tourist tax on tourist services, such as hotel rooms, ATV or snowmobile rentals, park reservations and all related tourist items. Let the tourists and weekenders help pay the bills. Why not add a fee or surcharge onto every ticket written in this county? A lot of tickets are written � why not add $10 to each one! It all helps.

I cannot believe Corbielle suggests not plowing on weekends! Does he not feel that fire trucks, ambulances and police officers need to get to people residences on weekends! Does he not understand that people work on weekends! Not everyone works 9 � 5 Monday through Friday Mr. Corbielle. Imagine the legal repercussions if a fire engine cannot get to a house because a road is not plowed.

I do not mind driving on rough roads in the summer � just drive slower, but I cannot drive down roads with 6 inches of snow on them! Keep the plowing and reduce the road maintenance in the summer. Spread road maintenance over years, not just a single year. Roads last a long time � let futures pay for them as well. Has anyone looked at contracting out all road services, such as plowing, maintenance etc? Not just at wages but at a total cost vs. cost comparison!

The bottom line is this � winter road maintenance, police, fire and rescue services are essential, life saving services that require people to function and should not be touched. These four areas are the things I would believe that most people want the most and are most willing to pay for! WE NEED THESES SERVICES! It already takes 2 or more hours, in most instances, to get a police officer in Marinette County and Corbielle wants to cut officers and add administrative staff. What sense does this make � absolutely none!

I ask the County Board as a whole to look at serious budget cuts in all areas, not just those proposed by Corbielle and to review those proposed by Corbielle.

As for use of the sales tax revenue for the operating budget. This is not what the people voted on or asked for. The approval of the sales tax was for debt reduction. Now Mr. Corbielle and some supervisors want to change the rules in the middle of the game. If the county has extra money in the debt reduction fund why not pay off as much as possible early. Why not borrow for major projects or capitol items and use the sales tax to pay off that debt since we are so far ahead in payments! Not go against what the people voted for.

Finally, every elected board member is elected by the people to serve the people! This means to vote the people wishes � not their own personal agenda. For any board member to think they are “smarter” than the constituents they serve is nothing but an insult to those who have elected him or her! I cannot believe any board member would be so self centered and egotistical as to believe their beliefs are above those of their constituents. Be sure you vote accordingly during the next elections!

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