1
00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:31,960
e

2
00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:01,920
e

3
00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:31,920
e

4
00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:01,840
e

5
00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:32,879
e e

6
00:03:08,799 --> 00:03:14,879
had to hit it all
right welcome good morning everyone to

7
00:03:12,799 --> 00:03:19,159
the county advisory tax limitation
committee I am Kim Morris with the chief

8
00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:24,280
Deputy County clerk's office and I now
call this meeting to order let's start

9
00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:29,439
with roll call Dr Shawn Williams with
the Intermediate School District

10
00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:33,080
superintendent Robert Robinson County
treasure

11
00:03:30,519 --> 00:03:38,319
Here Blake Moulder Ways and Means
Committee chairperson here Roger eeken

12
00:03:36,319 --> 00:03:46,120
Board of Commissioners
appointment Michael Baker Probate Judge

13
00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:50,599
appointment ker sluter Township's
appointment okay now if you guys could

14
00:03:48,439 --> 00:03:55,560
please introduce yourself and say a few
things um about your background and why

15
00:03:52,560 --> 00:04:02,200
you're on this committee sure um I'm
Sean Williams I'm the

16
00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:05,319
superintendent um Prov services to our
sorry I have Sean Williams uh

17
00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:11,640
superintendent eat Resa we provide
services to our local school districts

18
00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:15,200
and Charter Schools um we we have three
different millages that come through uh

19
00:04:13,599 --> 00:04:20,120
through eaten County we have our general
education millage special education

20
00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:25,320
millage and CT millage and basically
we're flow through I mentioned earlier

21
00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:29,000
that uh our revenues and our expenses
are exactly the same we money comes in

22
00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:33,000
and goes right out to the local
districts and so I guess at we had our

23
00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:38,240
special education millage back in
November uh that was successful what

24
00:04:35,199 --> 00:04:42,160
that did is it limited uh the debt that
our districts were taken on to provide a

25
00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:46,080
unfunded mandate which is special
education in Michigan and so it took

26
00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:51,440
their uh debt from six million
collectively to 3 million um and so I

27
00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:54,639
think probably some of my perspective
might help this committee as we move

28
00:04:55,880 --> 00:05:05,600
forward hi uh I'm Bob Robinson I am the
very proud treasurer of Eden County uh I

29
00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:11,639
am statutorily required to participate
in the committee uh and as one can

30
00:05:08,840 --> 00:05:15,840
imagine uh as County Treasurer I I
probably have unique insights with

31
00:05:13,840 --> 00:05:22,360
respect to County finances that others
may not so I'm I'm uh glad to be here uh

32
00:05:20,280 --> 00:05:29,160
glad to be your Treasurer and looking
forward to conducting business this

33
00:05:25,759 --> 00:05:35,000
morning hi there I'm Blake Moulder I am
a chair of the Ways and Means Committee

34
00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:39,960
statutorily it's it says the finance
committee chair is supposed to be at

35
00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:45,880
this meeting um I have been on the
County board for 14 years I have watched

36
00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:51,440
the County Progress the ups and the
downs from the recession of 2008 to the

37
00:05:48,759 --> 00:05:57,840
current to the current um situation I'm
a member of the financial stability work

38
00:05:53,680 --> 00:06:04,400
Group which has gotten together and made
plans just some suggest questions to the

39
00:06:00,280 --> 00:06:10,479
full board as to how to keep this County
in uh good

40
00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:16,319
financial situation and quite honestly
uh we've been working on on looking at

41
00:06:13,280 --> 00:06:20,479
County finances in depth for several
years and it was the workg group that

42
00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:28,960
made the recommendation that this
committee be put together so thank

43
00:06:25,639 --> 00:06:33,520
you I'm Roger rein I was a commissioner
on the count board for a number of years

44
00:06:31,840 --> 00:06:38,560
and have been retired from that board
for a time but while I was on the board

45
00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:44,720
I was vice chairman of the board as well
as chairman of ways and means so I've

46
00:06:41,639 --> 00:06:50,599
got a historical background relative to
the what's going to be discussed today

47
00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:55,560
for the most part I'm going to be
listening I'm Mike Baker I'm retired the

48
00:06:53,840 --> 00:06:59,680
former assessor for the city of Eaton
Rapids I'm currently on the Planning

49
00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:02,120
Commission and the Zoning Board of
appeals

50
00:07:02,599 --> 00:07:10,199
there my name is curtain selector um I
am the uh supervisor at wsor Town woodor

51
00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:15,360
Charter
Township um the supervisors uh elected

52
00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:21,120
me to this
position um a few days ago and uh I hold

53
00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:26,639
maai
designation a master's degree in real

54
00:07:23,319 --> 00:07:32,120
estate appraisal so I think that I can
bring some perspective as to what the

55
00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:32,120
property owners are going to think about

56
00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:39,360
this
okay now on to the election of a

57
00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:44,120
chairperson nominations are now open for
the chairperson of the Eaton County

58
00:07:40,960 --> 00:07:50,240
advisory tax limitation
committee I nominate Blake

59
00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:50,240
Alder

60
00:07:51,159 --> 00:08:01,440
second are there any
others I move Blake is uh is put in that

61
00:07:58,919 --> 00:08:01,440
position by

62
00:08:03,199 --> 00:08:06,840
acclamation are there any

63
00:08:06,879 --> 00:08:12,000
others okay Blake Moulder has been
nominated for chairperson of this

64
00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:19,879
committee
yes oh sorry yes who would like to

65
00:08:15,159 --> 00:08:19,879
second no they didn't we did Sean did oh

66
00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:31,279
okay okay now on to roll call Dr sea
Williams

67
00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:40,599
here yes yes used to be that's
okay Robert Robinson yes Blake Moulder

68
00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:48,959
yes Roger eeken yes Michael Baker yes
Kern selector yes okay now yes you are

69
00:08:46,640 --> 00:08:54,640
taking over thank you
Kim Kim was uh impressed into this Duty

70
00:08:52,959 --> 00:08:59,640
on short notice she didn't realize she
had to do it until about a half an hour

71
00:08:56,120 --> 00:09:06,360
ago and uh and as always she does does a
great job so thank you thank

72
00:09:02,399 --> 00:09:11,440
you all right um we have an agenda
before us what are your

73
00:09:08,839 --> 00:09:20,160
wishes move the
agenda a second moved by Mr um Eon

74
00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:26,240
supported by um Mr Baker all those in
favor

75
00:09:22,079 --> 00:09:32,440
oppos opposed yes a motion we used to we
generally typically have discussion MH I

76
00:09:29,519 --> 00:09:37,800
heard no offer for discussion correct
okay I'm sorry U Mr

77
00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:42,279
sler questions or comments agenda calls
for limited public comment I think that

78
00:09:40,360 --> 00:09:47,560
uh before we approve this agenda we
ought to let the public know what the

79
00:09:44,079 --> 00:09:53,600
limitations are to that public
comment as the chair I will limit their

80
00:09:50,959 --> 00:10:00,480
comments to five minutes that worked for
you that works for me thank you sir

81
00:09:57,800 --> 00:10:08,800
okay any other
discussion now all those in favor I

82
00:10:04,399 --> 00:10:16,200
opposed thank you all
right

83
00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:20,040
um I think we're
all aware of what this committee has

84
00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:26,279
been called for but I'll just give us a
few points be quick I'd like to get to

85
00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:30,399
the public comment and we've got um some
input

86
00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:35,240
from from staff do we want to do that
now what is your what are your thoughts

87
00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:35,240
I don't on the

88
00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:43,079
agenda do
that you want to do it what we had

89
00:10:40,839 --> 00:10:46,000
intended was in item number seven that
there would be discussion on discussion

90
00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:52,920
the beginning of the
discussion okay thank you well thank you

91
00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:57,200
for all being here um this is as you
understand a committee that was put

92
00:10:55,040 --> 00:11:03,560
together by the Board of Commissioners
to discuss the allocations for the

93
00:11:00,399 --> 00:11:08,120
statutory allocations for the townships
the ISD and the

94
00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:12,959
county understanding that the purpose of
this committee is

95
00:11:09,639 --> 00:11:20,639
to um make recommendations to the full
Board of Commissioners who would in turn

96
00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:26,519
put this ballot language on the ballot
the timing is such

97
00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:33,000
that when the full Board gets our
recommendations the ballot um would be

98
00:11:30,120 --> 00:11:38,760
for November of this
year this

99
00:11:34,920 --> 00:11:45,320
point any recommendations that we meet
that we make here go to the go to the uh

100
00:11:41,920 --> 00:11:50,760
Board of Commissioners and
essentially these are the upper limits

101
00:11:47,519 --> 00:11:57,519
of the allegations the boards make their
own um uh boards will do what they're

102
00:11:55,040 --> 00:12:02,880
going to do with the suggestion but for
the most part they are um

103
00:12:00,079 --> 00:12:06,639
responsible for levying any of the taxes
that's not our job our job is to only

104
00:12:05,399 --> 00:12:11,800
make the
recommendations

105
00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:16,320
so okay let's go to some limited public
comment five minutes maximum

106
00:12:21,399 --> 00:12:30,320
please good morning everyone my name is
Doug Lloyd and I am your Eaton County

107
00:12:27,440 --> 00:12:34,720
prosecutor myself as well as judge
Cunningham and Sheriff Reich intend to

108
00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:39,120
speak this morning but this morning one
of my employees Terry Saddler who is a

109
00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:43,519
lifelong resident of Eaton County asked
uh came and spoke to me and asked if she

110
00:12:41,560 --> 00:12:48,199
could speak for a moment and the words
she expressed to me were something

111
00:12:45,320 --> 00:12:52,360
unique and and encouraging and so I
asked Terry to actually speak before me

112
00:12:50,600 --> 00:12:57,959
and then we'll speak after so I would
allow Eden County resident Terry Sadler

113
00:12:54,959 --> 00:13:01,560
to speak first thank you good morning as
Doug said I am a lifelong resident of

114
00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:07,360
eaten County as well as an eaten County
employee today I speak as a resident not

115
00:13:04,199 --> 00:13:10,720
as an employee as a resident I have seen
nothing but growth and development in

116
00:13:08,839 --> 00:13:15,199
Eaton County I have seen a significant
increase in population companies

117
00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:19,480
manufacturer jobs and in the housing
market while Eaton County is heading in

118
00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:25,240
the right direction of growth that
growth comes with costs these are costs

119
00:13:22,160 --> 00:13:30,680
that people incur every day they are not
only countywide but State and Nationwide

120
00:13:28,839 --> 00:13:36,040
and many people are feeling the stresses
of these costs this is something that I

121
00:13:33,720 --> 00:13:41,040
can understand but with the growth and
development of Eaton County we need to

122
00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:45,320
be able to financially keep up with that
as we stated in Prior meetings there's

123
00:13:42,959 --> 00:13:51,639
going to be a reduction in staff to the
citizens of Eaton County many people may

124
00:13:48,680 --> 00:13:57,480
not or do not think that these Cuts will
affect them those cuts will affect

125
00:13:54,880 --> 00:14:01,759
everybody in Eaton County if it is not
you then it is somebody that you love or

126
00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:08,720
lives in the county services that could
be infected include um veteran Services

127
00:14:06,040 --> 00:14:14,880
licensing like marriage cpls getting dog
licenses development zoning planning

128
00:14:11,240 --> 00:14:18,759
drain property Deeds um treasury parts
and wreck but most important the

129
00:14:17,079 --> 00:14:22,600
reduction in staff will affect Eaton
County's courts and law enforcement

130
00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:27,480
System including the prosecuting
attorney's office Sheriff's Office with

131
00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:33,120
24-hour Road Patrol on the out County
into certain townships district courts

132
00:14:30,519 --> 00:14:38,360
trial courts for trials in granting
judgments and Clerks of the

133
00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:43,600
Court these are all essential functions
to keep to keep citizens of e County

134
00:14:41,279 --> 00:14:48,279
safe and give them the ability to access
the governmental functions that they are

135
00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:51,399
constitutionally have the right to have
I leave you with this analogies as I

136
00:14:49,720 --> 00:14:56,040
think about this as I have been watching
the meetings the the the Commissioners

137
00:14:53,519 --> 00:15:01,199
meetings the ways and means meetings as
a resident of Eaton County I look at it

138
00:14:58,759 --> 00:15:06,680
like this this you build a house in 1978
you want to put money and invest in that

139
00:15:03,399 --> 00:15:11,120
house to keep that house modern up to
date so when you get ready to pass down

140
00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:13,800
that house to a loved one or to sell
that house you're going to get the rate

141
00:15:12,399 --> 00:15:17,720
of return
back this is what eaten County needs to

142
00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:21,800
do to be able to address the current
issue for the growth of the future the

143
00:15:19,560 --> 00:15:26,680
tax limitation would be an investment
for the benefits of all citizens in

144
00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:32,759
eaten County thank
you thank you Terry as I said I thought

145
00:15:30,079 --> 00:15:37,959
those were poignant words so I'll keep
my words short today I've been with this

146
00:15:35,399 --> 00:15:42,600
County for almost 25 years during this
time it's been no secret that this

147
00:15:40,079 --> 00:15:46,240
county has struggled financially you've
all read the reports you've seen the

148
00:15:44,519 --> 00:15:50,759
numbers and understand the dire
situation the County's faced with I

149
00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:58,160
don't need to add to that you know where
we stand all 15 board members Democrats

150
00:15:55,519 --> 00:16:03,959
and Republicans voted unanimously to
form the committee to begin this process

151
00:16:01,199 --> 00:16:08,120
and the county has gone above and beyond
to get out in front of the people the

152
00:16:05,920 --> 00:16:12,800
residents to explain our
troubles that is that is no easy work

153
00:16:10,839 --> 00:16:18,880
but it's necessary work for the county
for our staff and for the services we

154
00:16:15,199 --> 00:16:23,120
provide without additional Revenue I can
almost guarantee that there will be

155
00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:29,120
drastic changes as what services we can
provide specifically in public safety

156
00:16:27,040 --> 00:16:34,319
whether my grow office grows even more
short staffed and has to limit the cases

157
00:16:31,519 --> 00:16:39,800
that we take on or the sheriff's office
has to eliminate a non-constitutional

158
00:16:36,279 --> 00:16:44,800
mandated service or the courts have to
just close up because they don't have

159
00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:51,079
the Personnel to actually be here every
day that's what is at

160
00:16:47,440 --> 00:16:56,040
risk the county has 400 employees who
serve our residence and they're the

161
00:16:53,279 --> 00:17:02,160
backbone of the county and they are our
most valuable assets the turnover of of

162
00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:08,039
employees in every office in the last
two years has taken extensive

163
00:17:05,199 --> 00:17:13,400
institutional knowledge that impacts
services and I can tell you because for

164
00:17:10,679 --> 00:17:17,679
some of you you've listened to it for
years Mr Ean you've listened to it a

165
00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:24,120
long time
ago I'm going to tell you that every

166
00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:29,039
office in this county has the same story
that's why I'm here to support this

167
00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:32,720
proposal I want to thank all of you for
serving on this committee friend for

168
00:17:30,799 --> 00:17:37,000
evaluating the financial needs of the
counties the townships and

169
00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:50,360
ISD good morning I'm Tom Reich I'm your
Sheriff here in Eaton County I want to

170
00:17:47,120 --> 00:17:55,960
thank you for participating in this
committee what can I say I mean the

171
00:17:52,960 --> 00:18:03,320
county has in dire need of additional
Revenue right now I feel that at the

172
00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:08,200
Sheriff's Office uh with vacancies that
I can't fill due to the fact that I'm

173
00:18:06,520 --> 00:18:13,400
competing with other agencies who make
more money for their

174
00:18:10,280 --> 00:18:18,400
officers I've also lost numerous people
to other agencies who pay more so it's a

175
00:18:16,480 --> 00:18:22,640
continuous battle for me right now we
have 14 POS

176
00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:26,720
vacancies uh it was up to 18 it's going
to be 18 again when I have some more

177
00:18:24,320 --> 00:18:31,640
retirements this
year this County I'm very proud of I

178
00:18:30,120 --> 00:18:36,520
think everybody in this who are
employees have done a great job my staff

179
00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:41,840
at the Sheriff's Office have done a
great job we are

180
00:18:39,480 --> 00:18:46,520
leaders in Sheriff's departments across
the state we've made Leaps and Bounds

181
00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:53,360
with technology and
training but I'm

182
00:18:48,919 --> 00:18:53,360
fearful and I hope you support

183
00:18:53,760 --> 00:19:02,159
this limitation tax
limitation it's going to be well worth

184
00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:06,600
it uh the Sheriff's Office uh several
months ago came up with an idea of doing

185
00:19:04,320 --> 00:19:13,280
a deputy Paramedic
program I seen the need of it right now

186
00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:16,000
we have Eaton area EMS Delta Township
has their own through the fire

187
00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:20,480
department wsor Township has their own I
believe Benton Township has their own

188
00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:26,120
but I think the out count residents
deserve a faster

189
00:19:22,640 --> 00:19:32,200
response with medical
assistance I can't tell you how much I'm

190
00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:37,159
very proud of this County I think uh
county soie has done a great job as a

191
00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:44,120
controller I think our commissioners
have done a great job they seen that we

192
00:19:40,559 --> 00:19:50,200
are need of additional revenue and I
believe this if supported will go into

193
00:19:47,799 --> 00:19:59,080
the November ballot and uh hopefully get
passed by the public so thank you again

194
00:19:54,520 --> 00:19:59,080
and move move forward

195
00:20:01,480 --> 00:20:08,159
good morning uh my name is Jan
Cunningham and I'm a circuit court judge

196
00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:13,280
but I am also the chief judge of the
trial courts and I don't usually come

197
00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:19,600
and speak before the board and uh
mislaid and uh prosecutor Lloyd and the

198
00:20:16,320 --> 00:20:23,280
sheriff have uh echoed the sentiments
that I have but I would like to share

199
00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:28,120
with you specifically as it relates to
the courts that we have made Cuts over

200
00:20:25,960 --> 00:20:33,480
the last several years and we have
consolid ated functions to try to adjust

201
00:20:31,360 --> 00:20:39,720
to the financial struggles that Eaton
County has faced at this time there are

202
00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:44,640
no further adjustments that we can make
we struggle to provide the necessary

203
00:20:41,840 --> 00:20:48,799
level of service to the public one
struggle is being made difficult because

204
00:20:47,039 --> 00:20:53,760
additional requirements are placed on
the court by the Michigan Supreme Court

205
00:20:51,120 --> 00:21:00,159
over which we have no control and we are
required to meet this is especially in

206
00:20:56,159 --> 00:21:03,960
the area of technology and diversion
and as our employees struggle to meet

207
00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:09,360
these demands they are doing it in
crowded inadequate workspace I too am

208
00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:14,720
proud of Eaton County and I know that
Eaton County is a great place to work we

209
00:21:11,960 --> 00:21:20,200
have wonderful employees they understand
the importance of what they do every day

210
00:21:17,120 --> 00:21:23,360
and how that directly impacts the lives
of the Eaton County residents that come

211
00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:28,039
to use our
courts and even though it is a great

212
00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:31,480
place to work we struggle to maintain
employees

213
00:21:29,159 --> 00:21:36,919
because we are not competitive in our
wages and our benefits that struggle

214
00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:42,279
becomes even more difficult as we try to
hire people when other employees leave

215
00:21:39,919 --> 00:21:48,919
for reasons of retirement or going to
the county next door inam with which we

216
00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:55,799
directly compete with and pay better
wages my request to you today is simple

217
00:21:53,000 --> 00:22:02,000
I'm asking you to help us provide a
working environment with competitive way

218
00:21:59,279 --> 00:22:07,679
so that we can continue to deliver the
quality of services that the Eaton

219
00:22:04,360 --> 00:22:12,320
County residents have come to expect and
they deserve I thank you for your time

220
00:22:10,760 --> 00:22:18,520
and I thank you for serving on this
committee I know it's very difficult

221
00:22:15,320 --> 00:22:18,520
thank you

222
00:22:29,799 --> 00:22:38,080
hello everyone I just I'll be brief I
want to thank you for uh being here and

223
00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:41,600
serving um as you know uh uh Blake
mentioned earlier that we had a

224
00:22:40,039 --> 00:22:47,159
financial stability work group that's
been working on this for a while and we

225
00:22:44,799 --> 00:22:52,679
uh came to the conclusion that we needed
to get to this point um just because of

226
00:22:50,279 --> 00:22:58,120
uh the situation you've heard
earlier before this um meeting and

227
00:22:56,440 --> 00:23:04,200
building up to this we had a several
town halls and in those Town Halls we

228
00:23:01,559 --> 00:23:10,559
had uh uh some internal town halls with
employees and employee after employees

229
00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:16,400
said they like working here but the pay
is not competitive with other counties

230
00:23:13,360 --> 00:23:22,919
and so they they want to stay but uh
financial reasons often takes them

231
00:23:19,679 --> 00:23:29,440
elsewhere um we had some uh town halls
with the um Township officials uh they

232
00:23:27,080 --> 00:23:36,559
came here and uh
that was very good we uh got to hear uh

233
00:23:32,799 --> 00:23:41,039
from their perspective and it was a it
was a good meeting the first time we

234
00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:47,000
ever got all the townships together but
I want to say one thing and that is we

235
00:23:44,799 --> 00:23:51,559
have a lot of good talented people that
work here and we want to keep them um as

236
00:23:49,600 --> 00:23:59,000
Sheriff said I'm also fearful of what
would happen if we could not keep those

237
00:23:55,120 --> 00:24:04,520
people um and and and
people to replace them it' be very

238
00:24:01,240 --> 00:24:09,159
difficult um but with that also there
was a lot of work that went into place

239
00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:16,200
uh that took place throughout this last
year and without controller syby and her

240
00:24:13,039 --> 00:24:20,320
staff um this really wouldn't happen
because it took a lot of work a lot of

241
00:24:17,919 --> 00:24:26,960
time and they are also under staff so
thank you but uh again thank you for

242
00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:26,960
being here and thank you for serving

243
00:24:34,120 --> 00:24:42,919
anyone
else there will be another opportunity

244
00:24:38,000 --> 00:24:49,559
at the end of the agenda for public
comment thank you let's go on to some

245
00:24:46,679 --> 00:24:58,520
discussion about the current tax
allocation and some input from staff and

246
00:24:52,760 --> 00:25:03,679
some uh Mr Dawson has some information
uh I think we have generally had a lot

247
00:25:01,159 --> 00:25:07,080
of uh the financial stability work
groups information has gone to the

248
00:25:05,799 --> 00:25:13,760
public it's been available on the
website we've passed it out to everyone

249
00:25:10,120 --> 00:25:18,120
that was interested um a lot of work has
gone into it the financial stability

250
00:25:15,559 --> 00:25:24,480
work group actually started when Mr ekon
was on the board some years ago

251
00:25:21,480 --> 00:25:30,039
and you know we've we've been looking at
this we've looked at our at our

252
00:25:26,480 --> 00:25:39,039
possibilities and uh
um at this point we finally reached the

253
00:25:33,279 --> 00:25:39,039
point where action is necessary so Mr

254
00:25:40,720 --> 00:25:50,679
Dawson okay um so do we want to start
off just every uh member of this

255
00:25:48,440 --> 00:25:55,000
committee you have a packet it has a
copy of a presentation that the Count's

256
00:25:52,600 --> 00:25:59,120
prepared to summarize a report which was
much more lengthy so we're endeavoring

257
00:25:57,320 --> 00:26:04,320
to leave the time today for you all to
have discussions and questions um on

258
00:26:01,440 --> 00:26:08,399
this there's also a blank action item so
if anybody wants to make a motion that's

259
00:26:06,279 --> 00:26:13,640
the statutory framework that uh that
would look like uh we included a few

260
00:26:11,919 --> 00:26:16,640
page summary of our Capital Improvement
plan we didn't print the whole thing but

261
00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:20,480
if any members of this committee want
the whole Capital Improvement plan uh we

262
00:26:18,840 --> 00:26:25,120
can produce that for the infrastructure
needs of the county and then there copy

263
00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:31,120
of the full May report which was 30
pages and a copy of a 2018 uh analysis

264
00:26:28,799 --> 00:26:35,559
that was done previously prior to covid
when uh Financial stability work group

265
00:26:33,240 --> 00:26:40,679
at that time had analyzed the needs of
the county so before we get to the

266
00:26:38,520 --> 00:26:46,360
county presentation I think this was an
opportunity to see if townships uh

267
00:26:43,919 --> 00:26:51,559
wanted to come up and and do a
presentation or have discussions uh so

268
00:26:48,520 --> 00:26:55,320
I'll defer to um their representative to
see if that's something they'd like to

269
00:26:56,520 --> 00:27:07,200
do um I have sent uh emails out to the
other supervisors um and I've gotten no

270
00:27:04,520 --> 00:27:13,200
comment or response from them so I guess
the the townships at this point are

271
00:27:10,559 --> 00:27:13,200
going to remain

272
00:27:14,279 --> 00:27:22,480
silent thank you thank you uh thank you
for your leadership in that role as well

273
00:27:20,559 --> 00:27:27,640
uh so then next is an opportunity for
the istd as well so Sean I welcome you

274
00:27:24,960 --> 00:27:30,720
to uh speak to the needs of the um of
your

275
00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:34,760
of your
District thank you yeah I can think what

276
00:27:33,120 --> 00:27:40,320
I would like to do just kind of
highlight a few things so that point2

277
00:27:37,640 --> 00:27:46,559
Mills represents the general education
uh budget for eat and Risa sorry excuse

278
00:27:43,679 --> 00:27:52,360
me and you know just to kind of how ISD
budgets work it really is our District's

279
00:27:49,240 --> 00:27:56,799
budgets they they own those funds they
they have complete input on how those

280
00:27:54,760 --> 00:28:02,640
funds are dispensed and each one of our
local school boards vote on how the

281
00:27:59,240 --> 00:28:07,559
funds are dispersed and so the the big
items that come out of that fund are

282
00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:12,279
school safety uh general education
supports which are math English science

283
00:28:09,440 --> 00:28:18,919
and social studies uh School
substitutes um adult uh Ed education and

284
00:28:16,080 --> 00:28:24,440
treny are the big ones and I have to say
on on the macro level you know we have

285
00:28:21,679 --> 00:28:28,320
been thoroughly you know um pleased with
the amount of support that we get from E

286
00:28:26,200 --> 00:28:32,480
County government um we have have a
great relationship with the sheriff's

287
00:28:30,320 --> 00:28:38,320
department the prosecutor's office
Treasury and just very helpful people um

288
00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:43,200
I have to say that we are really
concerned um about Public Safety uh

289
00:28:41,320 --> 00:28:48,919
given the light that we've had in the
environment and

290
00:28:44,360 --> 00:28:53,919
education um we 100% rely on the
sheriff's department to keep our schools

291
00:28:50,519 --> 00:28:59,840
safe and that is first and foremost our
biggest responsibility as Educators they

292
00:28:57,039 --> 00:29:05,159
coordinate all first responses to our
local districts and unfortunately the

293
00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:10,399
word is out on the street that coverage
at certain points of the day are not as

294
00:29:08,399 --> 00:29:14,840
heavy as we would prefer especially when
you figure from the north to the South

295
00:29:12,480 --> 00:29:19,200
borders of the county is pretty large
and so that concerns me because in my

296
00:29:16,960 --> 00:29:24,720
experiences Bad actors quickly figure
out where there is lack of supervision

297
00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:30,000
they also know where lack of prosecution
is so uh we're definitely uh concerned

298
00:29:28,360 --> 00:29:36,080
and I think I can speak for all of this
superintendent e County that we really

299
00:29:32,519 --> 00:29:36,080
need your support around Public

300
00:29:38,039 --> 00:29:46,519
Safety thank you thank you um and before
we move into the county piece um I did

301
00:29:44,120 --> 00:29:50,840
just want to state so everybody knows
the Mills that are listed on the agenda

302
00:29:48,519 --> 00:29:57,039
are the original ones that were set in
1978 um so both all groups the townships

303
00:29:55,120 --> 00:30:01,519
the Intermediate School District and uh
Eaton County has been subject to Headly

304
00:29:59,240 --> 00:30:05,559
rollbacks uh so the amount that were
allowed to Levy at this moment uh was

305
00:30:03,720 --> 00:30:11,200
diminished by three roll backs that took
place um and was outlined in the report

306
00:30:09,360 --> 00:30:16,720
uh for that as we transition to the
county I'll open it for controller soie

307
00:30:14,320 --> 00:30:20,360
to do an
opening I I just wanted to thank on

308
00:30:19,000 --> 00:30:25,080
behalf of the county all of you for
being here for years this County and

309
00:30:22,519 --> 00:30:31,120
I've been here for 36 years has worked
to balance its budget we have done so on

310
00:30:28,600 --> 00:30:36,000
open positions on the backs of employees
who have taken less pay to come here and

311
00:30:33,679 --> 00:30:40,720
do appreciate um the opportunity to work
here um we're now at the point that we

312
00:30:38,279 --> 00:30:46,679
have to seek additional Revenue we've
done a significant amount of analysis um

313
00:30:44,679 --> 00:30:50,600
we've continued to do that over the last
several several years I've also ban a

314
00:30:48,880 --> 00:30:56,919
part of that Financial stability work
group um so I've seen where we've gone

315
00:30:53,880 --> 00:31:02,080
the revenues are decreasing um and the
expenses are going to continue to go up

316
00:30:58,960 --> 00:31:06,639
that's a fact of life so the outline
that you received from the financial

317
00:31:03,720 --> 00:31:12,240
stability work group was a detailed
report um we tried to do that as a group

318
00:31:09,919 --> 00:31:18,799
um and staff did work really hard thank
you all um that resulted in the board to

319
00:31:16,600 --> 00:31:24,200
form this committee which is significant
to us as staff that they took a a

320
00:31:21,559 --> 00:31:29,600
detailed look at this um and realize the
need so I do want to turn it over to Ben

321
00:31:27,159 --> 00:31:34,519
again so they he can go through a brief
PowerPoint um and we'd like for you to

322
00:31:31,639 --> 00:31:40,399
hold your questions until the end um but
we do welcome questions the difficult

323
00:31:36,679 --> 00:31:45,760
ones as well thank you very
much okay thank you so the presentation

324
00:31:44,279 --> 00:31:50,399
on screen for those that are in the
audience on either TV and then for those

325
00:31:47,480 --> 00:31:54,039
at home you can see it right there uh so
we thank you for being here and uh for

326
00:31:52,039 --> 00:31:59,000
your considerations of the County's
financial needs we can move to the

327
00:31:56,000 --> 00:31:59,000
overview

328
00:31:59,240 --> 00:32:07,679
Logan is it moving oh great all right so
the outline of this is going to be

329
00:32:05,440 --> 00:32:11,600
pretty brief like we said we we did a
lot of the work on the front end the May

330
00:32:09,399 --> 00:32:16,080
10th report came out and hopefully
everybody here has had a chance to read

331
00:32:13,200 --> 00:32:19,639
it uh know it was provided upon uh folks
appointments or the formation of this

332
00:32:17,799 --> 00:32:23,159
committee so we're going to talk about
financial projections we're going to

333
00:32:21,480 --> 00:32:27,639
take a look at expense growth compared
to inflation expenditures and revenue uh

334
00:32:26,120 --> 00:32:31,799
have a discussion about arpa funding
which America rescue plan act funding

335
00:32:30,000 --> 00:32:36,279
that was Co dollars that were provided
by the federal government and that

336
00:32:33,720 --> 00:32:40,279
relationship to the county fund balance
which is the equivalent of the general

337
00:32:38,000 --> 00:32:44,720
fund money that carries over season to
season and allows the board to make

338
00:32:41,919 --> 00:32:49,799
funding decisions uh as they evaluate
influences on Revenue Headley and prop a

339
00:32:48,279 --> 00:32:55,559
uh service levels and expense by
function so we'll just dive on

340
00:32:52,840 --> 00:32:59,840
in so Financial projections this was out
of the executive summary uh County does

341
00:32:58,000 --> 00:33:04,320
not have the revenue to maintain current
service levels uh currently the

342
00:33:01,960 --> 00:33:09,679
projected shortfalls to be over 1.3
million shorten the next budget um I

343
00:33:07,039 --> 00:33:13,200
will say we're building that budget now
and it will potentially be more and

344
00:33:11,399 --> 00:33:17,000
those will be discussions Ways and Means
as we move forward but this was just an

345
00:33:15,039 --> 00:33:21,279
initial projection based on historic
we're building the actual detailed

346
00:33:18,760 --> 00:33:26,120
budget as we speak uh this shortfall
will continue to compound year after

347
00:33:23,080 --> 00:33:30,240
year if more revenue is not identified
uh without additional Revenue cuts and

348
00:33:27,760 --> 00:33:35,279
service and Staffing will be necessary
I'll speak on this in one way if we lose

349
00:33:33,480 --> 00:33:39,399
institutional knowledge if we have to
make cuts and later got the revenue it

350
00:33:37,240 --> 00:33:43,480
will take a long time to rebuild back
the quality character um and we would

351
00:33:41,799 --> 00:33:46,480
almost have like an apprenticeship model
where we would have to get people with

352
00:33:44,639 --> 00:33:51,159
no experience and build it back and for
Specialties like law enforcement the

353
00:33:48,440 --> 00:33:55,320
prosecutor's office attorneys that is a
very heavy lift and so a lot of us have

354
00:33:53,480 --> 00:34:01,880
already been wrangling that the last two
years next slide

355
00:33:59,320 --> 00:34:06,000
this next one is just to illustrate uh
expense growth for the County compared

356
00:34:03,320 --> 00:34:12,200
to inflation we chose three categories
that tend to beat or uh sometimes exceed

357
00:34:09,079 --> 00:34:16,679
inflation so as you can tell had these
expenses grown over this 10year period

358
00:34:14,720 --> 00:34:21,440
at the rate of inflation they would have
been less than 12 million but in

359
00:34:18,639 --> 00:34:25,119
actuality they're closer to 16 million
and so while we all struggle with the

360
00:34:23,560 --> 00:34:28,720
the bite of inflation this is just
showing that this is what the county has

361
00:34:27,079 --> 00:34:32,839
had to navigate previously when they've
made Cuts uh deferred maintenance and

362
00:34:30,919 --> 00:34:38,839
infrastructure that are critical to the
safety and the ability for staff to

363
00:34:35,320 --> 00:34:45,440
continue to Pride provide services next
slide uh next is uh expenditures and

364
00:34:41,560 --> 00:34:49,520
revenues this one is um kind of outlines
exactly where our revenue and expenses

365
00:34:47,159 --> 00:34:54,159
are um we took into account there are
gasby changes which are the accounting

366
00:34:51,440 --> 00:34:59,800
rules so the those are marked out so you
can tell what's actual Cash Flow versus

367
00:34:56,760 --> 00:35:05,839
what's book keeping uh type of piece but
as you can see uh the trend is is that

368
00:35:02,240 --> 00:35:09,560
expenses continue to outpace revenue um
and we show in the blue what Revenue

369
00:35:07,880 --> 00:35:13,760
would have been without pandemic relief
funds uh there's an arpa slide but we

370
00:35:11,960 --> 00:35:18,760
would not have been able to make it to
this meeting if we did not have uh lost

371
00:35:16,560 --> 00:35:22,800
Revenue that we could rely on in the
prior three budget Cycles um so that

372
00:35:20,960 --> 00:35:28,280
kind of bought us time to assess what
was the best path forward next

373
00:35:25,800 --> 00:35:32,800
line This is the graph was telling you
about as you can see of the arpa funds

374
00:35:31,280 --> 00:35:36,160
that were allocated to the county this
was the distribution of how they were

375
00:35:34,440 --> 00:35:39,920
spent the green is that Revenue
replacement that's the Lost Revenue I

376
00:35:38,000 --> 00:35:44,119
referenced um and there's a direct
relationship as you can see to the

377
00:35:41,720 --> 00:35:50,240
county fund balance um and what we're
projected to look at uh in the coming

378
00:35:46,320 --> 00:35:50,240
two fiscal years without any additional

379
00:35:50,480 --> 00:35:56,760
Revenue so I'm going to spend a little
more time on this because the table

380
00:35:54,880 --> 00:36:01,119
that's listed there wasn't in the May
report it took took us some time to put

381
00:35:58,599 --> 00:36:07,079
this together uh but generally headle
rollbacks and proposal a um are things

382
00:36:04,440 --> 00:36:12,440
that govern what property value uh local
units of government are allowed to Levy

383
00:36:09,640 --> 00:36:18,880
um and when prop a took effect it
created a state equalized value and then

384
00:36:15,319 --> 00:36:23,960
it created um it created a taxable value
so originally SCV the equalized value

385
00:36:22,280 --> 00:36:28,960
used to be what you were able to Levy up
to since

386
00:36:25,200 --> 00:36:33,480
1994 uh that Gap has led to a 23.2
million Revenue loss for the county

387
00:36:31,000 --> 00:36:37,680
that's cumulative uh and the gap between
taxable value and the equalized value is

388
00:36:36,079 --> 00:36:43,319
currently sitting at
31.7% so what that means is as the

389
00:36:40,119 --> 00:36:48,520
market appreciates in value 31 almost
32% of that is not taxable value that

390
00:36:46,440 --> 00:36:54,560
makes it to the county to townships or
to the ISD because of how that law Works

391
00:36:52,280 --> 00:36:59,119
uh the loss of revenue for the County
due to tiffa districts which are tax

392
00:36:57,200 --> 00:37:04,440
incre financing districts you know them
as downtown um development authorities

393
00:37:02,440 --> 00:37:10,400
um Corridor authorities uh we have a
number of them in Eaton County uh for

394
00:37:06,880 --> 00:37:15,720
209 since 2019 that's been a $3.8
million loss for the county what that

395
00:37:13,000 --> 00:37:20,839
means is when a mill is levied before
anything reaches the county there are a

396
00:37:17,640 --> 00:37:25,760
number of uh groups that get funded
first off of the top um and those tiffa

397
00:37:23,720 --> 00:37:29,480
districts are funded before anything
comes to the county so again talking

398
00:37:27,240 --> 00:37:33,760
about that development you see this
battery plant in Delta you see these

399
00:37:31,640 --> 00:37:38,480
different things that doesn't translate
to funding to the county to continue to

400
00:37:36,359 --> 00:37:44,160
provide expanded services to meet that
growth uh the Lost Revenue due to County

401
00:37:41,520 --> 00:37:50,720
exemption since 2019 it estimated at 1
million and will continue to grow uh

402
00:37:46,839 --> 00:37:54,480
every commissioner is is supportive of
taking care of our veterans they're

403
00:37:52,200 --> 00:37:58,880
heroic and their service and very
supportive of the intent of this law the

404
00:37:57,079 --> 00:38:02,240
problem being this was an unfunded
mandate that was placed on us by the

405
00:38:00,520 --> 00:38:06,440
state of Michigan so similar to how
chief judge had talked about there are

406
00:38:04,040 --> 00:38:11,359
things that occur at the state level
that we don't have control over but has

407
00:38:09,560 --> 00:38:16,640
a direct impact on our ability to
provide services that number will

408
00:38:13,359 --> 00:38:21,520
continue to grow uh as as you see has as
it has since uh

409
00:38:18,400 --> 00:38:26,000
2019 uh the next is lost Revenue due to
a Renaissance Zone Renaissance zones are

410
00:38:23,960 --> 00:38:31,240
like a tax increment District but they
can formed by the State uh and that

411
00:38:28,960 --> 00:38:35,800
battery plant in Delta is one that's
going to be in place for 18 years um

412
00:38:34,520 --> 00:38:40,800
this year it was
221,000 lost revenue for the county uh

413
00:38:39,040 --> 00:38:45,880
that will double when the facility is
complete and it Brees its full maturity

414
00:38:43,240 --> 00:38:50,079
for market value um and you could just
see in a six-year period these four

415
00:38:48,319 --> 00:38:54,319
categories alone have cost the county
$12.3

416
00:38:51,480 --> 00:39:00,440
million so it's all just to have the
discussion that what's brought us here

417
00:38:56,520 --> 00:39:03,280
today is largely being played out all
across the state of Michigan there are a

418
00:39:01,839 --> 00:39:07,119
number of counties that are struggling
in similar positions and a lot of it is

419
00:39:05,440 --> 00:39:12,480
framework that's been put in place at
the state level that we all have to work

420
00:39:09,760 --> 00:39:18,240
uh work through next
slide service levels by function uh

421
00:39:15,599 --> 00:39:22,720
Public Safety represents 35.1% of the
County's expenses um we continue to

422
00:39:21,040 --> 00:39:26,960
experience those hiring and retention
difficulties and that has led to the

423
00:39:24,720 --> 00:39:31,040
reduction in shift coverage for large
portions of the county um as well as

424
00:39:29,280 --> 00:39:35,079
increased overtime costs to try to
continue to provide coverage with the

425
00:39:32,599 --> 00:39:41,319
Staffing that we have uh retirement
costs alone have increased 4.3 million

426
00:39:37,319 --> 00:39:41,319
in the past 5 years which represents

427
00:39:46,960 --> 00:39:55,200
135.243 um and that's been a significant
burden on all localities um and that's

428
00:39:53,680 --> 00:39:59,440
what's driving that we've actually
reduced our pension benefit we've

429
00:39:56,839 --> 00:40:03,880
eliminated our retirees Health we've
gone through the responsible process to

430
00:40:01,480 --> 00:40:08,720
take care of it but when a deadline of
20 years is set every year that goes by

431
00:40:06,640 --> 00:40:14,560
the obligation on the county grows of
what we have to put in to meet that 100%

432
00:40:11,319 --> 00:40:22,000
by that year uh county has contributed
42.9 million to Ms um in the last 10

433
00:40:18,640 --> 00:40:27,000
years and um of that close to 3 to 4
million it was additional contributions

434
00:40:24,280 --> 00:40:32,160
above the minimum required contribution
County sits currently at 62% funded

435
00:40:30,560 --> 00:40:37,760
again that mandate from the state of
Michigan and uh Market forces we are

436
00:40:34,800 --> 00:40:40,319
currently at 62 but we were at 70%
funded in

437
00:40:41,319 --> 00:40:49,560
1996 next this is a service levels and
10year snapshot of expenses uh this is

438
00:40:47,800 --> 00:40:57,599
to give you kind of an idea what the
budget looked like in fiscal year 2014

439
00:40:52,480 --> 00:41:03,280
and what it was in 2023 we had 3742
total uh full-time equivalent

440
00:40:59,720 --> 00:41:09,680
FTE um with 279 of them uh being
supported by general fund snap forward

441
00:41:06,000 --> 00:41:09,680
to today it's 384.94

442
00:41:27,400 --> 00:41:34,720
here and that has not translated to a
savings expense categories across the

443
00:41:33,079 --> 00:41:40,920
board as you can see over there by the
percentiles have increased uh over that

444
00:41:37,720 --> 00:41:45,480
period of time so while the expenses
have grown substantially the county has

445
00:41:42,880 --> 00:41:47,960
not increase staff due to constraints on
the general

446
00:41:50,000 --> 00:41:59,480
fund so summary County's projected to be
1.3 shortfall in the uh upcoming fiscal

447
00:41:56,760 --> 00:42:04,680
year which which would be compounded to
23.4 um in the next two fiscal years so

448
00:42:03,079 --> 00:42:09,359
without additional Revenue the county
will be forced to reduce level uh levels

449
00:42:07,319 --> 00:42:13,960
of service it provides to address these
shortfalls reductions could eliminate

450
00:42:11,560 --> 00:42:18,880
vacant positions employee layoffs
reduction in hours of operation

451
00:42:16,040 --> 00:42:23,920
reduction in hours for staff uh and or
the sale of assets uh we do have some

452
00:42:21,920 --> 00:42:28,240
buildings and we may get to the point
where the board has to make the decision

453
00:42:25,720 --> 00:42:32,119
to start selling them off
um apart from securing additional

454
00:42:29,880 --> 00:42:35,880
Revenue the only path forward is a
significant reduction in County staff

455
00:42:33,839 --> 00:42:41,000
and services which will impact all
residents of Eaton County and I'll I'll

456
00:42:38,400 --> 00:42:45,839
say it again if we lose a significant
portion and folks decide to come back

457
00:42:43,920 --> 00:42:52,440
and fund the county later it will take
years to rebuild the talent uh the skill

458
00:42:49,680 --> 00:42:56,839
and the dedication that we have now um
so I appreciate everybody for being here

459
00:42:54,520 --> 00:43:00,319
and for um letting us talk about our
needs

460
00:42:58,960 --> 00:43:05,960
next
slide and this just shows uh what the

461
00:43:03,319 --> 00:43:12,000
separate tax allocation looks like the
township allocation as it was set in

462
00:43:08,200 --> 00:43:16,400
1978 where everybody rests with Ru backs
um and uh the recommendation from the

463
00:43:14,440 --> 00:43:21,680
financial stability work Group which
would be to authorize the board to have

464
00:43:18,800 --> 00:43:26,119
the ability to Levy the remaining three
that are allowed under the Constitution

465
00:43:24,480 --> 00:43:30,079
uh again that decision to Lev is made
every year by each board it's not an

466
00:43:28,359 --> 00:43:34,520
automatic Levy the same way a lot of
townships choose not to Levy their

467
00:43:32,160 --> 00:43:40,200
administrative fee uh it would just give
the board the ability to do that if

468
00:43:37,000 --> 00:43:40,200
necessary next

469
00:43:40,400 --> 00:43:47,680
slide and this is a draft uh separate
tax limitation proposal matches very

470
00:43:45,839 --> 00:43:52,240
similar to the action that's in your
packet and that concludes our discussion

471
00:43:51,200 --> 00:43:57,359
thank you Mr
Dawson any questions for staff

472
00:43:58,839 --> 00:44:06,960
thank you that brings us to the uh point
at hand which really is to fill in the

473
00:44:04,119 --> 00:44:11,079
blanks for the separate tax limitation
proposal the one that is uh the last on

474
00:44:10,040 --> 00:44:17,680
the
screen um I'd like discussion to follow

475
00:44:14,520 --> 00:44:23,280
the the agenda for the areas that the
blanks that need to be filled in and uh

476
00:44:21,440 --> 00:44:28,000
I would like to start with the township
allocation which currently is 1 mil now

477
00:44:26,559 --> 00:44:33,520
that's
the townships this is for all General

478
00:44:31,319 --> 00:44:38,480
law townships Charter townships create
their own funding mechanism and they're

479
00:44:35,640 --> 00:44:44,839
not party to this particular um
allocation

480
00:44:40,640 --> 00:44:51,599
so what we're proposing here is for
state general law townships now each of

481
00:44:49,000 --> 00:44:55,400
them uses their allocation in a
different way they've been rolled back

482
00:44:53,240 --> 00:45:01,440
at different amounts depending on a lot
of tax issues and they've some of them

483
00:44:58,240 --> 00:45:06,319
Levy some of them don't um what we're
asking for is just to reset the stage

484
00:45:04,119 --> 00:45:14,000
more or less and put the townships back
on their 1% or I'm sorry um their one

485
00:45:10,640 --> 00:45:17,440
mil allocation and I'm open to
discussion on this

486
00:45:22,559 --> 00:45:32,520
point Mr Robinson yes for uh
clarification Mr chair can you uh walk

487
00:45:28,240 --> 00:45:39,920
us through what the uh what the
3.29 uh allocation suggested by Mr

488
00:45:35,880 --> 00:45:46,359
Dawson uh is and how that relates to the
uh to the amounts being apportioned

489
00:45:43,880 --> 00:45:54,400
here are are we saying that there's
three there's that this uh committee can

490
00:45:49,000 --> 00:45:58,359
allocate three and uh divide that three
uh I'm just looking for clarification on

491
00:45:56,800 --> 00:46:02,800
that uh the
total the total

492
00:46:00,520 --> 00:46:10,359
allocation that's the maximum that is
allowed is 9.7 Mills okay so that's

493
00:46:07,119 --> 00:46:15,599
that's the Max and we'll that actually
gets filled in on the uh the ballot

494
00:46:13,040 --> 00:46:21,640
proposal um we're looking and currently
we're

495
00:46:16,559 --> 00:46:21,640
allocating um basically

496
00:46:21,800 --> 00:46:32,920
5.52 and one that's what the current
allocation is before roll backs

497
00:46:28,000 --> 00:46:39,240
so we can play with all of the
9.7 but we're proposing that we follow

498
00:46:36,119 --> 00:46:44,240
the formula that historically has been
been there with the townships receiving

499
00:46:42,480 --> 00:46:51,079
their 1 M
allocation and followed up ISD with

500
00:46:47,680 --> 00:46:55,480
their historical point2 allocation the
remainder we're

501
00:46:52,960 --> 00:46:58,839
proposing with discussion and with your
input

502
00:46:57,040 --> 00:47:04,440
um going to the
county is that clear that that clarifies

503
00:47:01,760 --> 00:47:04,440
it yes thank

504
00:47:07,400 --> 00:47:19,119
you so I'm looking for a consensus more
or less are we good with looking at the

505
00:47:14,359 --> 00:47:23,920
Township's one M alloc or one M
allocation and this will automatically

506
00:47:21,520 --> 00:47:29,880
roll back if it were and this is going
to go to the ballot and you know we're

507
00:47:27,280 --> 00:47:34,040
not making that tax change here we're
telling the County Board to put this on

508
00:47:32,319 --> 00:47:38,960
the ballot at this
recommendation so this would roll back

509
00:47:37,960 --> 00:47:44,720
put the
County's um allocation back up to 1 mil

510
00:47:42,520 --> 00:47:50,079
from whereever it's been rolled back the
townships again each of those are

511
00:47:47,800 --> 00:47:55,000
different when is this proposed to be on
the ballot timing of this is such that

512
00:47:53,280 --> 00:48:02,359
if we were to make a recommendation to
the County Board today they will um

513
00:47:59,119 --> 00:48:09,240
follow up with it next at their next
full board meeting in June

514
00:48:05,559 --> 00:48:16,160
and they'll probably create the ballot
recommendation in July that the

515
00:48:13,520 --> 00:48:19,640
plan you could do that at your at the
June meeting the board we could do it

516
00:48:17,680 --> 00:48:27,680
right at June yeah
so Mr sctor so

517
00:48:23,480 --> 00:48:32,280
by recommending this one mill and
assuming it a pass

518
00:48:30,680 --> 00:48:38,520
passes
um in the November

519
00:48:34,680 --> 00:48:45,200
election the township boards then would
just have a little more freedom

520
00:48:42,040 --> 00:48:49,559
in levying more tax but wouldn't be
obligated to is that correct that is

521
00:48:47,280 --> 00:48:53,880
correct thank you that is correct the
I'm not totally familiar with the

522
00:48:51,480 --> 00:48:59,240
township situation They Don't Really Lev
Levy they budget and whatever they

523
00:48:55,839 --> 00:49:05,200
budget is the number that's used but
that's uh all in statute actually the

524
00:49:01,880 --> 00:49:10,640
way the law works is we have to set the
millage and that's set before the

525
00:49:08,200 --> 00:49:17,040
budget's actually approved but you know
yeah it's it's go kind of luted so this

526
00:49:14,720 --> 00:49:23,240
will offer a little breathing room for
the townships that have had major roll

527
00:49:19,559 --> 00:49:27,880
backs and again that's uh um each
Township is different and so they have

528
00:49:25,200 --> 00:49:32,559
to speak to right I understand that do
it as such I just just wanted to clarify

529
00:49:30,280 --> 00:49:37,799
that one point about about it being
mandatory correct so yes we're looking

530
00:49:35,640 --> 00:49:43,079
at getting it to the County Board and
they would propose getting it on the on

531
00:49:40,480 --> 00:49:43,079
the November

532
00:49:44,680 --> 00:49:53,400
ballot I then if it were to pass in
November that it would take effect

533
00:49:49,640 --> 00:49:57,720
immediately on fiscal year upcoming it
would actually be

534
00:49:54,799 --> 00:50:01,760
levied the next year which is collected
in the summer taxes in in

535
00:50:04,359 --> 00:50:13,240
June we have a projection at all at how
long this particular increase would

536
00:50:10,319 --> 00:50:20,559
assist the county that is another
um well the period of of this allocation

537
00:50:18,160 --> 00:50:25,119
is something that we'll discuss but in
terms of the long-term Financial

538
00:50:23,079 --> 00:50:30,160
stability of the
county I will first of all we don't know

539
00:50:27,720 --> 00:50:34,200
what future boards are going to Levy we
don't know what future boards are

540
00:50:31,480 --> 00:50:39,520
planning on doing so we can't speak to
that but the work of the financial

541
00:50:36,799 --> 00:50:44,359
stability group really has indicated
that this would allow the board to put

542
00:50:42,599 --> 00:50:53,000
the County Board to put themselves on
footing that would um keep stability

543
00:50:48,680 --> 00:50:59,799
long into the future so we're not this
is a way to fix a problem and depending

544
00:50:56,359 --> 00:51:06,079
on how judicious future boards are with
that Levy their levying power um you

545
00:51:03,599 --> 00:51:11,200
know we leave it to
them long into the future that's an

546
00:51:09,240 --> 00:51:16,720
interesting
statement how long can you give me some

547
00:51:14,079 --> 00:51:22,240
idea what we're talking about what what
how long will the financial stability of

548
00:51:18,480 --> 00:51:28,240
this County be reestablished once this
is passed if it's passed let's put it

549
00:51:25,079 --> 00:51:28,240
that way

550
00:51:28,359 --> 00:51:37,960
I'll judge I'll venture to say that if
this were passed the financial stability

551
00:51:32,520 --> 00:51:43,319
is secure for the county in all of the
the

552
00:51:39,079 --> 00:51:47,720
next budget Cycles when I say that I I
we only project in our budget Cycles at

553
00:51:45,359 --> 00:51:52,760
the county about three to four years
ahead and any further than that has

554
00:51:49,880 --> 00:51:59,960
always been pretty much
um just guessing commissioner or Mr

555
00:51:57,200 --> 00:52:04,240
Robinson uh I do understand Mr chair
that we will specifically be discussing

556
00:52:02,280 --> 00:52:09,119
the length of time for for the
allocation so we will get into

557
00:52:06,000 --> 00:52:15,799
conversation about that I I wanted to uh
mention with respect to the uh one M for

558
00:52:13,160 --> 00:52:21,799
uh townships I have had conversations
with uh with uh quite a few Township

559
00:52:18,799 --> 00:52:27,680
people uh none of them indicated any
indication to need to increase an

560
00:52:24,680 --> 00:52:33,280
allocation at the local level this
moving forward the one mil would give

561
00:52:30,480 --> 00:52:39,319
them the additional breathing space of a
Headly roll back so uh considering those

562
00:52:37,200 --> 00:52:45,720
conversations I would be in favor of
moving forward with the one 1.0 mil

563
00:52:42,480 --> 00:52:55,280
thank you m Mr Robinson is that a motion
I I will make a motion I'll

564
00:52:50,920 --> 00:53:02,799
second we can do that um we'll move each
of these items in end we'll move to the

565
00:52:58,760 --> 00:53:06,640
full board when we have the entire um um
action items figured out so the motion

566
00:53:05,000 --> 00:53:13,319
on the floor is
to put the county allocation at one M

567
00:53:10,920 --> 00:53:18,240
Township Township I'm Township
allocation 1 mil questions or

568
00:53:18,440 --> 00:53:27,559
comments all those in
favor I I

569
00:53:24,440 --> 00:53:32,079
opposed thank you
now let's move on to this

570
00:53:29,520 --> 00:53:38,079
discussion let's go to the Intermediate
School

571
00:53:33,880 --> 00:53:43,119
District so I guess m
sorry so one of the things that we pride

572
00:53:40,760 --> 00:53:48,280
ourselves that eat Reese say we're one
of the most efficiently run if not the

573
00:53:45,119 --> 00:53:52,640
most efficiently run Risa in the state
um our Partnerships with Lon Community

574
00:53:50,280 --> 00:53:57,880
College and the way that we um fund
special education in our local districts

575
00:53:55,280 --> 00:54:02,240
um we're able to do things that a lot of
folks aren't able to do so our input

576
00:53:59,559 --> 00:54:06,079
output's pretty amazing but it's also
not lost on me that we just went to

577
00:54:04,079 --> 00:54:10,520
voters eight months ago for our special
education millage which didn't fix the

578
00:54:08,480 --> 00:54:14,839
problem but it did alleviate a lot of
the stress for our general Ed general

579
00:54:12,760 --> 00:54:19,559
education budgets in our local districts
where they were taking funds that were

580
00:54:17,559 --> 00:54:24,280
meant for all kids and they were funding
special education programs that the

581
00:54:21,240 --> 00:54:30,720
state was not funding um and so I guess
my question is is in our gratuiti

582
00:54:27,599 --> 00:54:37,240
towards the citizens that supported that
what would be the effect to leave Ingam

583
00:54:33,200 --> 00:54:42,680
or Ingam in or Eaton reso off of this uh
initiative and focus on the township and

584
00:54:40,280 --> 00:54:42,680
Eaton

585
00:54:45,480 --> 00:54:52,960
County so instead of asking which
essentially is because we're at 67 so

586
00:54:51,119 --> 00:54:59,000
it's essentially we're asking for a
restoration to two what if we were able

587
00:54:56,119 --> 00:55:02,640
to just stay with our 67 that way the
voters know that we appreciate the

588
00:55:01,280 --> 00:55:07,640
support they gave us in our special
education millage and then also uh would

589
00:55:05,559 --> 00:55:10,839
be more favorable towards supporting
both the township and the

590
00:55:11,000 --> 00:55:20,240
county I understand what you're saying
um that's a very difficult message to to

591
00:55:17,960 --> 00:55:27,000
that to translate it to the public now
obviously you don't have to assess the

592
00:55:22,680 --> 00:55:31,799
entire 2 mil that's your prerogative
at the at the

593
00:55:28,599 --> 00:55:38,039
ISD if we were actually to put that in
on this in this

594
00:55:33,760 --> 00:55:43,160
language the reason the reasoning for it
I think would be pretty opaque I mean I

595
00:55:41,440 --> 00:55:49,599
you're thanking the voters for giving
you the last override but I don't know

596
00:55:47,039 --> 00:55:55,599
that voters are smart but I'm not really
sure that they would link these two

597
00:55:50,960 --> 00:56:00,400
things together and so I I I appreciate
the the thought

598
00:55:57,079 --> 00:56:03,760
but I'm not I'm open to what the rest of
the group wants to say

599
00:56:06,480 --> 00:56:15,920
I'm I think it's a generous offer um
from the perspective of the ISC just

600
00:56:13,039 --> 00:56:25,240
getting an increase but it would
complicate um what the main goal is um

601
00:56:20,280 --> 00:56:25,240
for what this group is trying to do

602
00:56:26,920 --> 00:56:34,319
I would agree with
that we do not want to complicate

603
00:56:31,280 --> 00:56:37,599
matters so um I think this sounds like a
good

604
00:56:35,039 --> 00:56:44,599
plan so following our pattern now we'll
look for a motion for the

605
00:56:40,720 --> 00:56:44,599
isd's um

606
00:56:46,520 --> 00:56:56,440
allocation one of you would be better to
might move it rather I'll make the

607
00:56:51,599 --> 00:57:03,680
motion by sluter supported by Robinson
questions or comments um yes under under

608
00:56:59,640 --> 00:57:11,880
discussion for this
um it appears to me that this is going

609
00:57:07,880 --> 00:57:18,079
to be a very very involved public
relations campaign and I don't envy your

610
00:57:14,440 --> 00:57:21,079
position at all um from from the
ISD

611
00:57:22,839 --> 00:57:32,079
um if this fails in no
November we're going to have a train

612
00:57:29,359 --> 00:57:38,880
wreck I'll address that I'd like to know
what plan B is Plan B is because this is

613
00:57:34,920 --> 00:57:45,760
the Constitutional allocation Plan B is
everything stays the same this does not

614
00:57:42,920 --> 00:57:49,760
um if this fails in November the
existing

615
00:57:46,880 --> 00:57:53,960
allocations stay where they're at and so
nothing

616
00:57:51,240 --> 00:58:00,760
changes but we have just
heard oh at several

617
00:57:57,640 --> 00:58:07,160
meetings the disaster that the
prosecutor's office the Sheriff's Office

618
00:58:04,160 --> 00:58:11,760
all these important offices are going to
face I really think we need Plan

619
00:58:13,359 --> 00:58:22,160
B just well timing is everything yeah
exactly and our people are hurting now

620
00:58:20,520 --> 00:58:30,880
getting things on the ballot you know
we've got an opportunity for one one uh

621
00:58:27,000 --> 00:58:37,079
question and that would be this and this
beyond the beyond our uh duties here to

622
00:58:34,319 --> 00:58:42,640
talk about that but I think that's going
to be up to people to make sure that

623
00:58:38,799 --> 00:58:48,799
this ballot question is is resolved in a
a positive way for this group and that's

624
00:58:45,359 --> 00:58:55,079
again work that has to be done not by
the county but by individuals who would

625
00:58:52,799 --> 00:59:00,119
be interested in this in uh making sure
that this

626
00:58:56,640 --> 00:59:05,359
happens so but for hey how is this going
to be presented to the county County

627
00:59:02,440 --> 00:59:11,280
voter well that's is it going to
be each one of these groups tackling

628
00:59:08,559 --> 00:59:16,359
this on their own for example the our
Public Safety is going to get together

629
00:59:13,440 --> 00:59:21,319
and spend money to that will all be have
to be worked

630
00:59:17,440 --> 00:59:25,240
out after this is determined it's not
something that again this group our our

631
00:59:23,319 --> 00:59:32,559
mission here is to I understand is to
fill out these a numbers and leave it to

632
00:59:28,359 --> 00:59:36,200
others to figure out the next steps who
are the

633
00:59:33,680 --> 00:59:40,559
others I want it' be
us talking about the Board of

634
00:59:37,839 --> 00:59:45,799
Commissioners no well the board of board
of board can be involved but bottom line

635
00:59:42,920 --> 00:59:52,760
it is PE it is getting people out to
understand what this initiative is

636
00:59:48,440 --> 00:59:58,880
about Mr slor real quick answer to Roger
question um we have a lot of campaign uh

637
00:59:56,559 --> 01:00:03,599
Finance law and things like this that
has to be taken into account uh as for

638
01:00:01,680 --> 01:00:07,480
the county actively getting involved in
a campaign and spending County dollars

639
01:00:05,559 --> 01:00:13,920
on it that's not going to happen it's
not I mean you're looking at essentially

640
01:00:11,000 --> 01:00:19,240
having somebody very independent of the
County government setting up a pack and

641
01:00:16,599 --> 01:00:24,079
I'm I'm I'm sure you're going to have
some opposition to this thing I'm just

642
01:00:21,000 --> 01:00:29,839
absolutely certain of that so when I
when I pose the question what's play B

643
01:00:27,200 --> 01:00:34,720
I'm really serious this is going to be a
problem this is going to be very this is

644
01:00:32,960 --> 01:00:37,160
going to be a huge political campaign to
get this

645
01:00:37,480 --> 01:00:46,599
approved thank you Mr
sluter we are aware of that those of us

646
01:00:44,000 --> 01:00:52,319
on the other side of
this okay we have a motion did did we

647
01:00:49,480 --> 01:00:56,640
vote on that we're on the question this
is for the township allocation or for

648
01:00:54,760 --> 01:01:04,359
the highd
appication all those in favor I I I

649
01:01:02,200 --> 01:01:09,160
opposed thank
you next we go to the the county

650
01:01:09,760 --> 01:01:19,960
allocation this is one that
um Mr Dawson addressed as

651
01:01:16,359 --> 01:01:26,960
did the the the chief judge and the
prosecutor and the

652
01:01:22,960 --> 01:01:26,960
sheriff um

653
01:01:27,039 --> 01:01:36,520
this will take the county this would
take the county to

654
01:01:32,319 --> 01:01:42,039
8.5 that's that's recommendation
9.7 9.7 is is the total of all of those

655
01:01:40,839 --> 01:01:46,359
I'll move
it moved by Eon

656
01:01:47,000 --> 01:01:52,559
supported by Robinson discussion

657
01:01:58,520 --> 01:02:04,640
all those in
favor I those

658
01:02:02,680 --> 01:02:10,440
opposed thank
you the next issue is the

659
01:02:07,839 --> 01:02:15,880
duration this can be set up as some
counties do this as

660
01:02:13,000 --> 01:02:22,160
a we had a long discussion with our
Council about this and who councils many

661
01:02:19,240 --> 01:02:26,640
counties on this very subject and there
are counties that do this every few

662
01:02:24,200 --> 01:02:30,440
years they set up this
a board similar to this and they set up

663
01:02:29,480 --> 01:02:36,599
their
allocations um our Council was pretty

664
01:02:34,119 --> 01:02:43,680
clear they thought it should it should
be set up as an indefinite time

665
01:02:41,160 --> 01:02:48,599
period saying that if we wanted to
change it any board wanted to set up a

666
01:02:45,839 --> 01:02:54,000
time period or change the allocations
that they would have the opportunity to

667
01:02:50,279 --> 01:02:58,640
do so in the future but at this point on
the the way the ballot language question

668
01:02:56,119 --> 01:03:03,480
will read is that this would be an
indefinite

669
01:03:00,440 --> 01:03:08,119
allocation rather than breaking it down
to yearly

670
01:03:05,559 --> 01:03:13,599
or five years or whatever like other
like some counties do so I would be

671
01:03:12,279 --> 01:03:19,039
comfortable
following our

672
01:03:16,000 --> 01:03:23,680
council's Direction and making this in
an indiff indefinite period

673
01:03:26,319 --> 01:03:37,400
Mr sluter I think that um first of all I
don't know the reason why Council made

674
01:03:32,920 --> 01:03:44,920
that recommendation other than um it
would cause a situation where it was

675
01:03:41,680 --> 01:03:51,279
automatic I I think that if we limited
this to four or maybe five years where

676
01:03:48,720 --> 01:03:56,279
the citizens had the right and the
opportunity to have public comment to

677
01:03:54,440 --> 01:04:01,799
speak to these real
ations uh I think we would be doing I

678
01:03:59,039 --> 01:04:10,200
think we would be doing the citizens
uh a Justice and I also think that we

679
01:04:06,920 --> 01:04:15,039
would create for the county a tremendous
campaign issue I think you're going to

680
01:04:12,559 --> 01:04:19,160
have a problem if you do it forever but
I think if you put it out there as

681
01:04:16,799 --> 01:04:24,520
though it can be Revisited from from
time to time at a a period of time uh I

682
01:04:23,319 --> 01:04:32,200
think you're going to be I think you're
going to be much much further

683
01:04:28,240 --> 01:04:38,559
ahead I appreciate that I I
believe the difference is that if it

684
01:04:35,279 --> 01:04:43,520
were at in a situation if it were voted
down where it's got a certain period

685
01:04:41,559 --> 01:04:48,119
that the recourse that it would actually
disappear all funding would disappear

686
01:04:48,680 --> 01:04:57,440
versus in that in that situation there
would be no funding but I'd like I'd

687
01:04:55,799 --> 01:05:01,680
like to see a legal opinion on that
that's I may be wrong do you guys have a

688
01:05:00,680 --> 01:05:06,400
call on
that yeah so I think Am I Wrong my

689
01:05:04,760 --> 01:05:10,960
understanding is right now we're in an
indefinite period so if this fails we

690
01:05:08,359 --> 01:05:16,359
revert to an indefinite period if you
allocate moving forward to be on a cycle

691
01:05:14,279 --> 01:05:21,640
you don't default back to indefinite
because you've moved onto a cycle going

692
01:05:19,039 --> 01:05:27,440
forward so while the risk of the loss
doesn't exist right now if it was say

693
01:05:24,520 --> 01:05:32,079
six years and it was voted down the
default would be back to the

694
01:05:30,160 --> 01:05:38,200
authorization that was only for six
years is my understand we can the timing

695
01:05:35,319 --> 01:05:45,279
yeah timing would just be default would
yeah me it would default to the

696
01:05:42,400 --> 01:05:51,960
five5 for today's purposes because it's
indefinite right now but if you vote to

697
01:05:47,880 --> 01:05:57,119
move to a a cyclical changing it every
so many years that's the new default

698
01:05:54,039 --> 01:06:02,960
because you've changed the 19 78 if that
makes sense so in the future this was

699
01:05:59,880 --> 01:06:08,400
moved and it was passed 6 years later
it's evaluated and it fails you don't

700
01:06:05,839 --> 01:06:12,680
default back to the 1978 you default
back to the 2024 allocation is my

701
01:06:11,400 --> 01:06:18,039
understanding to how Council explained
it that makes sense that makes better

702
01:06:14,400 --> 01:06:22,240
sense to me can actually confirm that um
as we went through legal counsel for our

703
01:06:19,880 --> 01:06:26,200
millage we had to use the language of an
increase otherwise we would run the

704
01:06:24,400 --> 01:06:32,200
Jeopardy in 10 years having the whole
special ed millage fall off um it became

705
01:06:30,440 --> 01:06:36,400
problematic because the language was
really convoluted because we were doing

706
01:06:34,119 --> 01:06:40,960
two different things we were restoration
and then a increase and really most of

707
01:06:39,359 --> 01:06:45,119
the complaints that I received from the
public was this is really confusing

708
01:06:42,720 --> 01:06:52,359
ballot language it wasn't really about
the millage so yeah I concur yeah thank

709
01:06:49,000 --> 01:06:52,359
you for that clarification

710
01:06:56,039 --> 01:07:08,760
Mr Robinson thank you Mr chair um the
the uh only problem I see with

711
01:07:03,640 --> 01:07:14,920
uh uh it by not going in indefinite is
that uh as supervisor sluter is

712
01:07:11,559 --> 01:07:23,000
mentioned it it would seem uh to put us
into a major public relations effort

713
01:07:19,240 --> 01:07:30,440
every what three four years five
years uh versus uh uh you know uh

714
01:07:27,279 --> 01:07:35,799
grinding it out with one uh initiative
which is going to be tough

715
01:07:32,000 --> 01:07:42,039
enough uh so uh you know looking at uh
resources and how they're allocated and

716
01:07:38,680 --> 01:07:48,359
apportioned uh as a Communications
professional which is what I did prior

717
01:07:44,440 --> 01:07:53,400
to being elected Treasurer um I I I
think that could uh cause a lot of

718
01:07:50,200 --> 01:07:58,160
trouble and a lot of confusion um so I I
I think that going with a in definite

719
01:07:56,119 --> 01:08:03,960
time period to me makes more sense from
a resource perspective now that being

720
01:08:01,000 --> 01:08:09,240
said uh we we have to consider what the
perspective of and will of the voters

721
01:08:06,400 --> 01:08:13,440
are uh and I don't know what the will of
the voters are in that respect would

722
01:08:10,960 --> 01:08:19,480
they be more apt to approve it on a
short-term basis or more apt to approve

723
01:08:15,839 --> 01:08:24,759
it on a long-term basis uh I'd like to
hear more from other members of the

724
01:08:21,159 --> 01:08:30,719
committee about that uh but uh from from
the way I see it I I I think that it

725
01:08:28,040 --> 01:08:36,960
makes most sense to go with an
indefinite period

726
01:08:33,640 --> 01:08:44,400
um it's an uphill battle it's walking
uphill a steep one uh but uh uh I would

727
01:08:41,640 --> 01:08:47,960
hate to see uh everything grind to a
halt every three or four years who knows

728
01:08:46,600 --> 01:08:51,920
what's going to happen in another three
or four years that's that's the world

729
01:08:49,839 --> 01:08:57,159
we've been living in for the last three
or four

730
01:08:52,960 --> 01:08:57,159
years thank you

731
01:08:57,359 --> 01:09:06,839
yes Mr Baker my assumption after reading
the report is that um this is

732
01:09:03,920 --> 01:09:11,120
potentially the best option that you see
that you have um to potentially gain

733
01:09:09,359 --> 01:09:17,440
this increase that you've never had
before um and I think you need to try

734
01:09:14,679 --> 01:09:19,920
now because it may be even more
difficult in the

735
01:09:24,359 --> 01:09:33,400
future I would find it difficult I would
hate

736
01:09:28,560 --> 01:09:38,679
to to go into a into a shorten cycle of
10 or or five years for the County Board

737
01:09:36,040 --> 01:09:43,839
to have to continually go through the
work to renew it I don't I understand

738
01:09:41,839 --> 01:09:48,080
your point and I think it's a good one
but I I don't I would hate to impose

739
01:09:45,799 --> 01:09:52,480
that on the future boards I think uh
they're they're going to have their

740
01:09:49,880 --> 01:09:57,120
hands full making sure that the count is
run effectively and making sure that

741
01:09:55,480 --> 01:10:03,520
these monies are used effectively and
not and uh allocated appropriately so I

742
01:10:01,239 --> 01:10:08,800
would prefer to see an indefinite period
if they find reason to change it then

743
01:10:06,320 --> 01:10:08,800
let them do

744
01:10:10,159 --> 01:10:17,360
so what kind of a change are we talking
about I mean wouldn't the change be to

745
01:10:15,040 --> 01:10:22,239
reduce it they
could they could reduce it they could

746
01:10:19,640 --> 01:10:26,640
change the duration they can do whatever
I mean if this is that's the work of

747
01:10:24,719 --> 01:10:31,679
future board
and we can't tell them what to do or how

748
01:10:28,360 --> 01:10:39,560
to do it is there a mandated
ceiling yes I mean of Mills yes yes that

749
01:10:35,600 --> 01:10:44,560
is the 9.7 so they can't increase Beyond
9.7 correct without a constitutional

750
01:10:41,960 --> 01:10:49,080
change of some kind correct statutory
change of some sort statutory change

751
01:10:46,080 --> 01:10:49,080
sorry

752
01:10:58,719 --> 01:11:05,640
okay we're in discussion for the county
portion going to

753
01:11:05,920 --> 01:11:16,280
8.5 who was the maker of a motion
sorry pass that R the duration keep me

754
01:11:13,159 --> 01:11:19,960
on line we're in discussion for the
duration and I'll look for a

755
01:11:21,000 --> 01:11:33,000
motion I'll move it we indefinite wef
I'll

756
01:11:28,800 --> 01:11:33,000
support move by supported by

757
01:11:33,880 --> 01:11:40,719
Robinson all those in
favor

758
01:11:37,800 --> 01:11:43,920
I
opposed thank

759
01:11:44,679 --> 01:11:51,639
you now we're to the point where we've
got the form filled

760
01:11:52,480 --> 01:11:57,239
out and honestly it's

761
01:11:58,360 --> 01:12:03,120
this is
what appears essentially what appears on

762
01:12:02,360 --> 01:12:08,400
the
ballot I I guess I didn't explain that

763
01:12:05,840 --> 01:12:13,280
very much but the ballot language for
this

764
01:12:09,600 --> 01:12:19,719
particular limitation proposal
is statutorily defined and it pretty

765
01:12:17,520 --> 01:12:23,840
much comes up to something that looks
like this form right here

766
01:12:31,440 --> 01:12:38,760
and that'll be in the if we move it on
to the full board then there of course

767
01:12:35,960 --> 01:12:38,760
we'll take the next

768
01:12:52,000 --> 01:12:59,400
step will that actually be the ballot
language Ben

769
01:12:56,520 --> 01:13:05,159
yes yes y
okay we always debate questions and have

770
01:13:02,920 --> 01:13:10,600
Council this came out of council this is
uh one of those things

771
01:13:07,639 --> 01:13:15,840
that the board will not have
any

772
01:13:12,199 --> 01:13:15,840
um they can't change

773
01:13:15,960 --> 01:13:26,159
it okay I'll look for a motion to move
this on to the County Board a

774
01:13:21,199 --> 01:13:26,159
recommendation so move Mr Baker

775
01:13:26,480 --> 01:13:32,000
support Mr
eeken questions or

776
01:13:35,639 --> 01:13:45,040
comments all those in favor I I
opposed

777
01:13:45,840 --> 01:13:54,080
thank I would like to thank all of you
for taking your time out to be here I

778
01:13:51,280 --> 01:13:59,840
know it was a uh beautiful summer day
and you probably all had better things

779
01:13:56,280 --> 01:14:06,679
to do but uh I appreciate your work as
Citizens and your help and at this point

780
01:14:03,679 --> 01:14:11,639
uh we'll put this to the board and make
plans for that

781
01:14:08,159 --> 01:14:16,040
afterwards so Mr Dawson
comment was just going to say I think

782
01:14:13,800 --> 01:14:19,320
they're finalizing the minutes because
we need to have we need to have uh

783
01:14:17,560 --> 01:14:22,920
because this body they public comment
too yes we have another public comment I

784
01:14:21,320 --> 01:14:27,000
want to give the I wanted to give the
clerk a few minutes to put her minutes

785
01:14:25,440 --> 01:14:33,120
together so that we can finalize those
Mr selector understand that but I think

786
01:14:29,960 --> 01:14:41,120
we probably because I I I was a little
confused on the agendas because I saw

787
01:14:35,199 --> 01:14:41,120
two of them at one time um but

788
01:14:41,320 --> 01:14:48,000
um if we approve the meeting minutes
before the final public

789
01:14:45,679 --> 01:14:52,880
comment then the people that choose to
speak are not recorded in the minutes

790
01:14:55,320 --> 01:14:58,679
you're correct on

791
01:14:59,600 --> 01:15:07,880
that I make a motion to amend the agenda
to approve the minutes after the final

792
01:15:05,000 --> 01:15:12,560
public comment I'll
support by Mr SL supported by Mr

793
01:15:10,320 --> 01:15:16,360
Robinson is that right did
it welcome to the seat you can't tell

794
01:15:15,040 --> 01:15:22,560
who's
speaking to amend the agenda for public

795
01:15:19,679 --> 01:15:28,280
comment to happen now all those in favor
I I opposed

796
01:15:25,480 --> 01:15:30,600
thank you okay an opportunity for second
public

797
01:15:33,040 --> 01:15:41,199
comment and please state your name for
the uh the minutes good morning my name

798
01:15:38,480 --> 01:15:47,440
is Jim Ruff uh for fairness I want you
to know that I'm I am uh running for the

799
01:15:44,880 --> 01:15:55,199
10th District commission
seat and um I have a extensive

800
01:15:51,600 --> 01:16:01,719
background from the city of Lancing I
chose to live in Eaton

801
01:15:57,040 --> 01:16:05,760
County uh when I was
sarily uh almost dictated to live in the

802
01:16:04,760 --> 01:16:10,239
city of
Lancing uh but uh that was before school

803
01:16:08,600 --> 01:16:14,400
of choice and a lot of different things
that go on with families well I

804
01:16:12,520 --> 01:16:19,600
appreciate greatly the efforts that have
been put into this uh uh packet of these

805
01:16:17,719 --> 01:16:25,239
packets of information both the budgets
and and that I would encourage that U it

806
01:16:23,159 --> 01:16:31,199
gets down to the Simplicity of dollar
and cents uh while these are all very

807
01:16:28,400 --> 01:16:35,000
difficult uh Concepts to relay to the
public I think it has to be simplified

808
01:16:34,040 --> 01:16:40,000
much
greater

809
01:16:36,560 --> 01:16:48,080
uh like today knowing how much money
gets goes into a Township or a county

810
01:16:44,120 --> 01:16:53,440
and what that means if it's being
reallocated as it is that doesn't that

811
01:16:51,120 --> 01:16:57,199
doesn't talk dollars and
cents uh to people and that's what

812
01:16:55,639 --> 01:17:02,320
people are having to go through at this
time is counting pennies their own

813
01:16:59,600 --> 01:17:07,719
pennies and so I think it behooves the
other aspect of this is my understanding

814
01:17:04,600 --> 01:17:14,520
just like with the township uh
section uh where uh that point two or

815
01:17:12,360 --> 01:17:20,679
excuse me the one
mil they don't have the townships do not

816
01:17:17,800 --> 01:17:25,719
have to collect that much is that
correct it's my understanding they're

817
01:17:23,000 --> 01:17:31,440
set at a limit and so it behooves the
township trustees to evaluate what

818
01:17:29,080 --> 01:17:37,159
they're going to need in the coming year
and not just spend it because it's been

819
01:17:34,840 --> 01:17:45,239
authorized well if the same is true for
the county then if it's as an indefinite

820
01:17:40,960 --> 01:17:49,400
period it it will uh be imperative for
future

821
01:17:46,360 --> 01:17:55,280
Commissioners to be responsible on a
yearly basis and not just throw

822
01:17:52,360 --> 01:18:00,679
everything against the wall because
that's going to be a problem in the

823
01:17:57,880 --> 01:18:04,880
future and we've seen that in the past
my understanding with some of the

824
01:18:02,920 --> 01:18:12,280
contract negotiations that have occurred
in the past that uh have been had to be

825
01:18:08,560 --> 01:18:20,560
resented had to be reset to save uh
funds for the remaining County and so uh

826
01:18:16,679 --> 01:18:28,000
while this may be set at a indefinite
period uh we also have to understand

827
01:18:24,400 --> 01:18:36,480
that uh elections have an
impact and uh contracts have an impact

828
01:18:32,239 --> 01:18:43,520
uh for employees and so uh I'm I've been
on both sides of that as an employee and

829
01:18:38,880 --> 01:18:47,320
as a manager and as such uh you have to
weigh those impacts and that will be

830
01:18:45,760 --> 01:18:53,000
very important for the Commissioners in
the future as well as uh the

831
01:18:49,600 --> 01:18:57,760
administrators of the of the County uh
because not always what's good for today

832
01:18:55,760 --> 01:19:02,440
is going to be helpful for
tomorrow and uh that will be a very

833
01:19:00,600 --> 01:19:07,760
important aspect on how this is
addressed and I think it will take a

834
01:19:04,719 --> 01:19:12,239
commitment by the Commissioners that
when especially now that Commissioners

835
01:19:10,120 --> 01:19:18,800
are going to be on four-year
terms that during that four-year term

836
01:19:16,040 --> 01:19:27,600
minimally uh we're going to be looking
at uh doing what we can with what we

837
01:19:24,159 --> 01:19:34,520
believe is necessary for that year in
collections and so on as we look from

838
01:19:29,880 --> 01:19:40,159
year to year and so it it uh it really I
believe uh well I I appreciate all the

839
01:19:37,520 --> 01:19:46,679
the data that's in this I think it's
overwhelming to the public and it has to

840
01:19:43,600 --> 01:19:53,520
be simplified the message has to be
simplified and uh to make this something

841
01:19:50,719 --> 01:19:59,239
that can get the Buy in that's necessary
for it to be approved

842
01:19:55,480 --> 01:20:05,040
uh it as uh as it's desired by not only
the uh staff of the county but also by

843
01:20:02,840 --> 01:20:12,080
hopefully the citizens because uh
security is so important to this uh

844
01:20:08,520 --> 01:20:18,120
County and especially in its location
and because when you need it you need it

845
01:20:15,400 --> 01:20:25,400
right and so uh it's uh it's very
important that way I appreciate my uh

846
01:20:20,880 --> 01:20:29,280
impact or my interaction with County
uh

847
01:20:26,440 --> 01:20:35,480
employees uh I've had to work with the
county clerk's office often enough and

848
01:20:32,159 --> 01:20:40,880
so on and with uh different offices so
I'm I'm pleased with uh the staff

849
01:20:38,360 --> 01:20:46,719
they're always very pleasant and so I
give that comment as well and appreciate

850
01:20:43,840 --> 01:20:52,400
the opportunity to be here and to
address this uh committee thank you

851
01:20:50,199 --> 01:20:52,400
thank

852
01:20:53,320 --> 01:20:57,199
you any other public

853
01:21:00,800 --> 01:21:09,120
comment cam are you ready with the
minutes yes would you like to read them

854
01:21:06,880 --> 01:21:09,120
back

855
01:21:10,239 --> 01:21:16,520
please okay the Eaton County tax
limitation committee met in special

856
01:21:14,520 --> 01:21:21,719
session at the county facilities in the
city of Charlotte Thursday June 6 2024

857
01:21:19,960 --> 01:21:25,600
including the availability of virtual
attendance by the public Chief Deputy

858
01:21:24,000 --> 01:21:31,920
Kim Morris called the meeting to order
at 10:00 roll call Who present Dr Shawn

859
01:21:29,800 --> 01:21:37,280
Williams Intermediate School District
superintendent Robert Robinson County

860
01:21:34,400 --> 01:21:42,320
Treasurer Blake Moulder Ways and Means
Committee chairperson Roger ekin Board

861
01:21:40,120 --> 01:21:47,679
of commissioner's appointment Michael
Baker Probate Judge appointment and Kern

862
01:21:44,719 --> 01:21:52,360
selector Township's appointment absent
none Chief Deputy Morris asked for

863
01:21:50,080 --> 01:21:58,520
nominations for chairperson of the tax
limitation committee Mr Ean nominated Mr

864
01:21:55,360 --> 01:22:03,280
Blake Moulder Dr Williams supported
there were no further nominations for

865
01:22:00,360 --> 01:22:09,360
chairperson a roll Co a roll call vote
was taken with six voting a and nonone

866
01:22:06,040 --> 01:22:14,960
voting nay motion carried Mr Ean moved
the approval of the agenda as presented

867
01:22:11,639 --> 01:22:19,800
seconded by Dr Williams Mr Moulder noted
that comment will be limited to five

868
01:22:16,600 --> 01:22:25,520
minutes motion carried Mr Moulder spoke
about the purpose of the committee

869
01:22:21,880 --> 01:22:30,800
public comment Terry Sadler prosec Lloyd
Sheriff Reich chief judge Cunningham and

870
01:22:28,679 --> 01:22:35,159
commissioner chairman M spoke in favor
of the tax limitation

871
01:22:32,679 --> 01:22:40,560
proposal discussion held on the current
tax limitation allocation Deputy

872
01:22:38,000 --> 01:22:45,080
Administrator Human Resources Director
Dawson asked Mr selector and Dr Williams

873
01:22:43,719 --> 01:22:50,159
if they had any comments from the
townships or the Intermediate School

874
01:22:46,880 --> 01:22:55,320
District at this time Mr sctor stated he
reached out to Township supervisors and

875
01:22:52,280 --> 01:22:59,520
they have no comment at this time
Dr Williams gave a brief overview of the

876
01:22:57,360 --> 01:23:04,199
Intermediate School District funding and
stressed the importance of Public Safety

877
01:23:01,600 --> 01:23:08,800
in the county a brief presentation was
given by Mr Dawson and County controller

878
01:23:06,520 --> 01:23:15,960
administrator soie of the state of
County Mr Robinson moved the township

879
01:23:11,440 --> 01:23:21,159
allocation of 1.00 mil Mr sler supported
motion carried Mr sler moved the

880
01:23:19,239 --> 01:23:28,719
Intermediate School District allocation
of 0.20 mil Mr Robinson supported

881
01:23:25,199 --> 01:23:35,400
discussion held motion carried Mr Eon
moved the county of Eaton allocation of

882
01:23:31,120 --> 01:23:40,960
8.50 MS MR Robinson supported motion
carried Mr ekan moved to approve the

883
01:23:38,239 --> 01:23:46,560
separate tax limitation proposal Mr
Robinson supported motion carried Mr Ean

884
01:23:44,719 --> 01:23:51,760
moved to approve the separate tax
limitations be established for an

885
01:23:48,600 --> 01:23:56,440
indefinite period Mr Robinson supported
discussion held motion carried

886
01:23:56,679 --> 01:24:08,480
Mr Baker would move to approve Mr Baker
move to approve the

887
01:24:05,120 --> 01:24:08,480
separate and

888
01:24:10,120 --> 01:24:18,280
established and establish the separate
tax limitation proposal to the Eaton

889
01:24:15,639 --> 01:24:23,880
County Board of Commissioners Mr Ean
supported motion carried Mr Selter moved

890
01:24:21,880 --> 01:24:29,639
to amend the agenda to move the approval
of the to after public comment Mr

891
01:24:26,760 --> 01:24:34,080
Robinson supported motion carried public
comment Jim Ruff spoke in opposition of

892
01:24:32,199 --> 01:24:38,760
the tax limitation
proposal and then we are there

893
01:24:41,400 --> 01:24:50,800
yes so you want me just to speak of The
Proposal spoken reference to spoken

894
01:24:48,280 --> 01:24:50,800
reference

895
01:24:51,119 --> 01:24:58,679
to okay Mr Jim Ruff spoke in reference
to the tax limitation

896
01:24:56,520 --> 01:25:03,360
proposal that is it now we're to the
motion of the minutes and

897
01:25:01,520 --> 01:25:09,480
adjournment motion to approve the
minutes support Mr sctor Mr

898
01:25:06,920 --> 01:25:16,400
eeken questions or
comments all in favor I those opposed

899
01:25:14,400 --> 01:25:20,639
thank you again thank you for all
serving today I appreciate your being

900
01:25:18,719 --> 01:25:24,840
here and taking the time out thank you
in the audience for coming and and

901
01:25:22,280 --> 01:25:31,239
visiting and giving us your input
um now the hard work falls on us but

902
01:25:28,760 --> 01:25:37,159
this first this is going to go to the
ways and means and then to the full

903
01:25:32,880 --> 01:25:41,719
board on June 20th on June 20th on June
the 20th the full board I don't think it

904
01:25:39,320 --> 01:25:47,199
goes to ways means do
it okay thank you everyone we adjourned