Budget Crunch Will Require Tough Choices

Michigan State Capitol (AP file photo)

State and local governments are hurting across the country.  The Great Recession has hit local governments particularly hard, because their largest revenue source is property tax.  In addition, approximately eight million Americans lost their jobs as a result of the worst economic downturn since the 1930’s.  All told, there are over 1O million Americans out of work. 

The situation in which we find ourselves has a doubling effect on local governments, especially Benzie County, which has long been plagued by economic despair and lack of opportunity for year-round residents.  With property values declining and people out of work, the tax base is shrinking at the same time voters are weary of any further millage increases, and rightfully so.  It is a hard sell to ask the voters, many of whom are barely scraping by, to approve an increase in their taxes. 

The net effect is a county budget that has been stripped to the bone.  As we approach the end of our fourth year since the recession began, it seems like the situation might be hopeless.  Coury doesn't think it is. 

It may not seem like it, but things are beginning to improve.  However, improvement takes time to be felt by those at the street level.   And it takes time to recover lost ground.  The stock market has reversed its losses; businesses are adding jobs, albeit not as quickly as is needed; property values have slowed in their decline; and it looks like Northern Michigan had a bumper year.  We’re on the mend.

Right now we’re dealing with the after effects of shrinking revenues and budget cuts.  After years of putting off until tomorrow what cannot be paid for today, we have department budgets that have been cut to point where public safety and quality of service are being affected.  The Benzie County Sheriff’s Office is a prime example. 

Sheriff Heckman has done well playing the hand he was dealt.  During his four years as Sheriff, he has saved the county roughly $400,000.  He has implemented cost saving measures on everything from limiting overtime to working with the lights off in his office (true story).  He has done so with the priority of providing the best possible police protection his budget will afford.  But cost saving can go only so far. 

The bulk of the Department’s budget is personnel (sheriff, under sheriff, sergeants, and deputies.)  At this point the only thing left to cut is the number of deputies and the hours they are on patrol.  Coury feels that is not an acceptable option.

The Sheriff’s Office is already understaffed to adequately provide the services requested by many county residents.  Currently, the Sheriff’s Office is not capable of affording services like 24/hour road patrol and putting the liaison officer back in the schools. Further cuts in the number of deputies will continue to diminish the level of service delivered in the community.  One deputy cannot be all places all of the time.   
   
As your sheriff, Coury will do the best with what is provided. However, he will also never be afraid to tell the taxpayers what is needed to fulfill the constitutional and statutory obligations of the Sheriff’s Office, and to provide the services they want.  His goal is to promote peace, prosperity, and opportunity in Benzie County. 

He knows crime prevention and mitigation are just as important as enforcement.  Supporting the Sheriff’s Office does not require residents to oppose other county services.  Many of those services are vital for maintaining a functioning community during tough economic times.  They make it easier for law enforcement to fulfill their duty of community protection and service.