Washtenaw County officials list public safety, human services among top priorities at budget retreat
Washtenaw County Commissioner Barbara Levin Bergman, D-Ann Arbor, spoke in favor of funding social programs at today's county budget retreat. Bergman said one of her priorities is for "every kid in this county to grow up to be a taxpayer."
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
Washtenaw County Sheriff Jerry Clayton said he walked into today's county budget retreat extremely cynical and a bit nervous.
"I won't say I'm not nervous anymore, but I'm less scared than I was before," Clayton remarked toward the end of a five-hour discussion on the county's financial challenges.
Washtenaw County commissioners and other top county officials spent today coming up with a list of priorities to keep in mind as they seek to address a $20.9 million structural budget deficit over the next two years. The meeting was facilitated by Commissioner Conan Smith, D-Ann Arbor, who took over as county board chairman this month.
Commissioners generally agreed public safety, human services, fiscal responsibility and efficient service delivery should serve as the county's guiding principles. Public safety ranked at the top of the list, which pleased Clayton.
Sheriff Jerry Clayton listens as Washtenaw County commissioners discuss budget priorities during today's retreat. Commissioners ranked public safety at the top of their list.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
"It's a recognition that public safety shouldn't be set aside off on its own," he said. "It is a line connected with the condition of Washtenaw County — economic development and everything else — so I'm happy they recognized that."
The county's 2011 budget is in excess of $200 million. The general fund totals $98.7 million — more than 60 percent of which goes toward public safety and justice.
The projected deficit for calendar year 2012 is $12.95 million, or 14 percent of the county's general fund revenue. That's equal to 132 full-time jobs.
By 2013, without cuts, the county would be running a $20.9 million deficit. That's nearly a quarter of general fund revenue at that point, or 207 full-time jobs.
No formal decisions were made today, but Smith said it's his intention to compile a statement of the board's priorities, which commissioners will vote on at an upcoming meeting.
"I think we took a gigantic step forward in terms of this budget process," he said. "The impacts and outcomes that we've defined today, I do believe will give administration some tools to work with in crafting their internal priorities and talking to the organization."
Smith said the most interesting aspect of the top four priorities that came out of today's conversations is their interrelatedness.
"We cannot provide effective human services, for example, to our mentally ill population without a high-functioning public safety and justice system," he said. "And we know we can't do that without a well-managed county, so those four priorities make a lot of sense."
Over and over again, commissioners stressed that county government is about serving people, including providing a safety net for those residents who are most vulnerable. Fruitful discussions were had around the topic of human services, with priority given to maintaining programs that address issues like homelessness, food scarcity and unemployment.
"Virtually all of our human service work is mandated, and the vast majority of it is actually not funded by the general fund," Smith noted. "So it doesn't play a huge role in the general fund, which is where most of the cuts are going to come from. So it's going to stay there — but at reduced capacity almost certainly, because of budget cuts from the state."
Commissioner Yousef Rabhi, D-Ann Arbor, was one of several commissioners who voiced strong support for maintaining human services programs.
"This county does human services right," he said, adding it's also in the county's best interest to provide services that prevent homelessness and keep people paying taxes.
"We care about people, and that is my top priority here — to keep that focus on people-oriented services," Rabhi said. "Helping people helps the economy, it ultimately helps our budget."
Rabhi said he wants the county to focus on reducing any duplication of services between the county and local municipalities.
Commissioners Yousef Rabhi, D-Ann Arbor, and Dan Smith, R-Northfield Township, tear off a sheet of ideas for service consolidation and collaboration during today's retreat.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
Commissioner Dan Smith, R-Northfield Township, said he thinks the county needs to keep its focus on core services, like those provided by the treasurer, clerk, prosecutor and sheriff.
"We need to find a way to not kick the can down the road," he said, calling for "responsible management of those precious dollars that taxpayers have given us."
Commissioner Rob Turner, R-Chelsea, also said his hope is that instead of trying to do "a lot of things not very well," the county will concentrate on core services.
Rabhi offered a somewhat different take.
"I've heard a lot of people say let's focus on certain things and try to do them right, and to some extent I agree with that," he said. "At the same time, I want to try to continue to provide the breadth of services that we have, and I think there's some opportunity to do that."
Commissioner Kristin Judge, D-Pittsfield Township, said she's interested in targeted budget cuts, not across-the-board reductions. She also said she doesn't want to hear county officials using the phrase "everything's on the table."
Commissioner Barbara Levin Bergman, D-Ann Arbor, disagreed with Judge, saying everything is on the table — including programs she cares about.
Commissioner Alicia Ping, R-Saline, said she'll be looking out for the interests of her district, and she's going to dig her heels in on certain programs.
Multiple commissioners agreed the county probably will have to do less with less, and entire programs or services likely will be cut.
"Structural reform is a serious high priority for everyone," Conan Smith said, calling for an outcome-based approach to budget development.
Commissioners collectively expressed a desire to see more collaboration and consolidation, as well as investments in programs that will help improve the economy and make the community more environmentally sustainable and socially just.
Some commissioners said they want the county to be a leader in the areas of open space, recreation, public transportation, human services and general quality of life.
From a fiscal management standpoint, among the goals stated were maintaining a high bond rating, running surplus budgets and increasing structural revenue collection.
Commissioners also expressed a desire to see reductions in employee benefit costs, with some questioning whether the county should be in the pension business and others asking whether the county should remain self-insured for health benefits.
From left to right, Commissioners Barbara Levin Bergman, Conan Smith, Leah Gunn and Rob Turner discuss budget priorities during a breakout session at today's retreat.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
On the public safety front, commissioners said their goal is to have a county where residents and business feel safe, children don't use drugs, and police respond to emergency calls in a timely manner. Some said they hope to see only two law enforcement agencies serving Washtenaw County — the sheriff's office and the Ann Arbor Police Department.
Priorities related to energy and economic development, as well as children's services, were identified but weren't discussed in detail. Still, some said they want to set a goal of reducing the county's energy use by 40 percent and making the county "fossil fuel free" in 20 years.
"I think this is a great starting point," Bill Reynolds, deputy county administrator, said at the end of the retreat. He said one of the next steps is bringing employees to the table.
"As we move forward, there's going to be tough times, no question," Conan Smith said. "Some of the work that we do, we're not going to do next year, and that's going to mean jobs. That's going to mean very real impacts for people in the county, but it has to be done. And what we heard today, I think, is that it will be done in the most humane way possible."
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.
Comments
AlphaAlpha
Wed, Feb 2, 2011 : 2:05 a.m.
Thank you, Susan. The link was meant simply to provide background for the general, larger issue of public sector compensation exceeding private sector compensation. Apologies for any confusion. A2.com has not yet created such a detailed examination of county compensation; hopefully they will. There is a huge need to replace feelings and thoughts with actual numbers. A2.com did publish an article tangentially addressing the WCRC issues; analysis there shows WCRC employees average total compensation for 2010 was $91,182, which is some 157% of the US average pivate sector total compensation. Here is the link to that article: <a href="http://www.annarbor.com/news/lima-township-residents-hit-with-multiple-bridge-closures-washtenaw-county-road-commission-officials/index.php">http://www.annarbor.com/news/lima-township-residents-hit-with-multiple-bridge-closures-washtenaw-county-road-commission-officials/index.php</a> Good luck.
Susan Cerniglia
Tue, Feb 1, 2011 : 4:18 p.m.
Alpha Alpha - The previous article you cite is a detailed discussion of the City of Ann Arbor's employee costs. The situation is NOT the same, or even similar at the Washtenaw County, which is the subject of this article. As noted by others, County employees have taken pay cuts and have had eight unpaid furlough days added last year and this year. Benefits have been reduced, etc. The County situation is not comparable to the City's situation. Please don't use the City's data to demean the County or it's workers.
AlphaAlpha
Sun, Jan 30, 2011 : 11:23 p.m.
Connie - The numbers can be confusing; some of this is by design, and some is because many are not taught basic high school level accounting or budget reading. There are many sites providing data on employment, state, federal, etc, as well as right here. If you have not read AnnArbor.com's background piece, you might want to consider reading it; it's well referenced and documented, and it clearly shows the enormous disparities between the compensation of local public employees compared to their private sector peers. Here is the link: <a href="http://www.annarbor.com/news/controlling-employee-costs-may-be-ann-arbors-biggest-challenge/">http://www.annarbor.com/news/controlling-employee-costs-may-be-ann-arbors-biggest-challenge/</a> Good luck.
AlphaAlpha
Sun, Jan 30, 2011 : 11:14 p.m.
"Most of the public employees I know do not make 180% of private sector comparable salaries." Salaries? No. You must consider total compensation. This includes way more than salaries. Benefits, in particular, are far less generous in the private sector than public sector. Again, it may not 'seem' like they make 'that much', but they do.
AlphaAlpha
Sun, Jan 30, 2011 : 11:10 p.m.
timjbd - "$20.9 Million is $60.00 per resident (~350,000 in Washtenaw County). " Just for accuracy and likely reality checking, it might also be helpful to do the same calculation substituting 160,000 actual employed in the county, instead of the total county population, since, ultimately, it is the employed minority which pays most of the bills. So, $20.9 million shared by 160,000 workers means $131 per worker. "And as long as people don't bother to look where the stuff they buy every day comes from, this trend down will continue." Much truth there; though Washington DC established the trade laws which allow outsourcing, offshoring, etc., it is the consumer who decides to purchase their own goods and services. Hopefully more folks will consider buying local products.
Ralph
Sun, Jan 30, 2011 : 4:30 p.m.
Most of the public employees I know do not make 180% of private sector comparable salaries. In regard to the County pension system, I guess a few of the Commissioners have forgotten that employees put a percentage of every pay check into the county pension fund. Also, a few years back the County discontinued its 401k pension plan and forced everyone back into the defined benefit pension plan.
InsideTheHall
Sun, Jan 30, 2011 : 3:55 p.m.
Time for LEFTY to get a shave and a haircut. Cut the dang budget. Property values have fallen hence less revenue coming in. Time to adjust, no excuses. This country and county has lived beyond it's means. COUNTY PRIORITIES 1. Public Safety but with 9% reduction in total compensation 2. Plowing Roads in the winter and cutting grass in the summer 3. Record Keeping - but at least two body bags out the door from Larry K's fiefdom. Do more with less and model how Terri Lynn Land streamlined the SOS office. That's it folks. No more save the world social programs. If there is a true need the many churches within the county can fill the void and do it more efficiently than a bloated lethargic county bureaucracy.
Justice4all
Sun, Jan 30, 2011 : 5:21 p.m.
"Larry K's fiefdom"...too funny. If I'm not mistaken the clerks office has had considerable cuts over the years. Is he not the only elected county official to give up two of his admin spots? Sorry Inside The Hall but it looks like you've been actually standing outside the building. I'd love to see AA.com do a "Keeping them honest" kind of thing where comments/assertions could be fact checked and posted.
timjbd
Sun, Jan 30, 2011 : 2:51 p.m.
$20.9 Million is $60.00 per resident (~350,000 in Washtenaw County). Why don't you put that on the ballot? It can't be that hard to explain. Just because Fox News and Rush Limbaugh say public employees are worthless does not make it so. And as long as people don't bother to look where the stuff they buy every day comes from, this trend down will continue. Instead of going out to dinner at Olive Garden, go to a local establishment instead. Instead of getting your groceries at Walmart or Target, go to Meijer or Produce Station. When you shop/eat at a national chain, 70+% of the money you spend leaves the locality for good. When you shop local that same amount continues to circulate locally- sometimes an even higher percentage. Once your money goes off to China, the only way it will come back is in the form of national debt. You have to LOOK for local products but they are out there. Why would anyone want to support the Chinese economy instead of their own?
Halter
Sun, Jan 30, 2011 : 1:41 p.m.
First, before getting all heated up again, I think people need to stop associating the word "retreat" with some kind of "perk" that these hard-working folks are getting. In the modern vernacular, "retreat' means "Business Meeting held for a day or two above and beyond the normal work week where we give you a boxed sandwich for lunch". So lets not get that excited. Second, as owner of my own company, I stopped having "retreats" for brainstorming purposes a long time ago -- all you end up with are a watered down list of "priorities"; many of which already reflect the company mission statement, and really provide no realistic direction for where to head next. In this instance, I am glad they have narrowed down their development needs into a few areas they feel comfortable with; but it's most likely not going to translate to anything concrete as the year progresses. Still, I thank our county representatives for their work, their thoughts, and their dedication to trying to help our residents.
AlphaAlpha
Sun, Jan 30, 2011 : 12:55 p.m.
Compensation numbers have been published here, and at the respective websites. It may not 'seem' like public employees earn so much, but the facts are public data.
Connie
Sun, Jan 30, 2011 : 12:10 p.m.
@AlphaAlpah I am a public employee and we gave up our raises for the last three years. (25 cents per year). We have given up 8 pay days for 2010 and 2011 (total 16 for two years) and I am sure there are more cuts to come. Could you please tell me where I could go and earn 180 % more money than I do now (what a dream). I have been working for 28 years for the County. I love my job, the people that I give service to and that is the reason I stayed not the money alone. I am not sure where you get your information from but please talk to a public employee for the facts on earnings and service we give. Also we are taxpaying consumers also. ? where were you or are you employed.
newsboy
Sun, Jan 30, 2011 : 6:38 a.m.
Where do people get these high number for public employees earnings? I was with AFSCME for 24 years and all through the 90s, my friend would tell me to leave my job and "go to the out side" as we would call it. I had many lucritive job offers I had to turn down. This was not only because of my years of service, but I loved my job and the people I was there to help. I did have many days I wished I could make the money my friend made, but with two kids and all those years, I had to stay. Now jump a head to 2011, and everyone who works for the public sector is an over paid loser. Give me a break! Come work in the public sector for awhile and you'll find it's no bed of roses, and you won't be buying a your own privet island any time soon.
AlphaAlpha
Sun, Jan 30, 2011 : 4:07 a.m.
"what is entirely wrong about raising revenue?" Reduced living standards of the people. Assets of nearly every description have been falling in price for several years now: stocks, real estate, collectibles, etc., nearly every asset class ex-commodities (likely next). The net worth of most people has been reduced as well. Total compensation for most people has dropped, along with net worth. People are less wealthy now than they were just recently. Public employees, however, are being compensated better than ever. Local public employees are earning approximately 180% what their private sector peers earn. Tax increases during recessions are generally quite problematic, and especially for politicians. These are a few of the reasons why increasing revenue is entirely wrong. Thank you for asking.
Fat Bill
Sun, Jan 30, 2011 : 2:40 a.m.
Annarboral said that "the only way to balance the budget is to dramatically cut spending". Not so fast. While there will likely need to be cuts, what is entirely wrong about raising revenue? The knee-jerk reaction that taxes are so terrible is un-patriotic. You get what you pay for. I, for one, don't want to live in a "K-Mart" county. I think a certain level of service is worth the investment. What we really need here is a paradigm shift with regard to public services. And no, I'm not a public employee, nor am I related to one, just a citizen willing to do my part to maintain a nice place to live.
annarboral
Sun, Jan 30, 2011 : 2:09 a.m.
How much did they spend on this "retreat"? Seems to me that if these people really represent the people they should already realize the following: 1) There is no free lunch. 2) The only way to balance the budget is to dramatically cut spending. 3) It is very possible that essential services can easily be funded by existing revenues and that taxes can actually be reduced. 4) Human Services is a politically correct (oxymororn?) method of buying votes from people that can't seem to manage their own affairs without continual government support. Why do we keep electing people that can't see the obvious? What did the last election tell us?
Ryan J. Stanton
Sun, Jan 30, 2011 : 2:48 a.m.
The retreat was a relatively low-key affair. It was held in the county building, where the commissioners hold their regular meetings, and Conan Smith picked up the tab for the food from Zingerman's they had catered. And so you know, commissioners aren't considering raising county taxes. In fact, their hands are pretty well tied there. There was some interest expressed in seeing the state switch to a graduated income tax, though. As to human services funding, whether government should provide programs to those at the bottom rungs of society, keeping them in their homes and paying taxes, and keeping the working poor off of welfare, will always be a philosophical and political debate with disagreement, but I think it's a given where Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County stand.
Cash
Sun, Jan 30, 2011 : 12:03 a.m.
Question for Ryan Stanton, Did the former and current board members pay back the money they owed and if so, how much of it? If it was reported I missed it. It may not be a material amount to the budget but it is a matter of integrity and "transparency". Thank you.
MjC
Sun, Jan 30, 2011 : 2:37 p.m.
Thanks Ryan (and Cash for posting this question) - I can't take anything anyone on this board seriously until the public finds out whether or not they've paid back the money they owe for inappropriate per diems.
Cash
Sun, Jan 30, 2011 : 11:57 a.m.
Ah, thanks Mr Stanton. So much for transparency is our county government! We waited weeks for the first information. Shame on the WC employees. If it is paid it should be public info...SPEEDILY.
Ryan J. Stanton
Sun, Jan 30, 2011 : 3:11 a.m.
I'm still waiting to hear news on that. You can expect to read about it here as soon as I know anything.
AlphaAlpha
Sat, Jan 29, 2011 : 11:52 p.m.
How about this as a priority: "Provide greater value to the taxpaying consumer."