Washtenaw County commissioners place jobs and economy among top priorities
Washtenaw County commissioners agreed Thursday night the economic prosperity of the county should be at the forefront of their minds as they make decisions to close a $20.9 million structural deficit in the county's budget over the next two years.
"It's all about jobs," said Commissioner Kristin Judge, D-Pittsfield Township. "Because you can help fill the holes in the dike and take care of the little issues, but we have to make it conducive to do business here. And small business really is the crux of our economic base here."
Commissioners met informally for the third time in recent months inside the county building to wrap up a three-part budget retreat. Board Chairman Conan Smith and Working Session Chairman Yousef Rabhi, both Ann Arbor Democrats, led Thursday's discussion.
Washtenaw County Commissioner Kristin Judge, D-Pittsfield Township, says "it's all about jobs."
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
"What I've heard around the table is jobs, and that's what we need to be focusing on," Rabhi agreed, adding that includes manufacturing. "If you look at the seal of our county, there's the gear on it. We've built things for a long time, and we can't stop building things."
There was a general sense that the county should be partnering with entities like Ann Arbor SPARK and the University of Michigan on economic development. Properly investing in public safety so businesses and residents feel safe also was cited as a priority.
The county's 2011 general fund budget totals $98.7 million — more than 60 percent of which goes toward public safety and justice.
Smith said the county must invest its dollars strategically to make sure it's delivering high-quality service. He said he intends to bring a resolution forward at the board's Ways and Means Committee meeting on March 16 that more clearly spells out the board's priorities.
The board has made clear its desire for a redesigned county government that places priority on making sure residents are safe and secure and, additionally, that children and families are provided basic needs like food, shelter, health care and education, Smith said.
"We are the patch in the social service network, and maintaining that is one of our priorities," he told commissioners, summing up what he's heard from them in recent discussions.
Increasing economic opportunities for all residents and bringing new businesses to Washtenaw County is another goal stated in a sheet Smith handed out to commissioners.
Rabhi said investing in education should remain part of the economic development strategy in Washtenaw County, as should protecting the environment.
"That's going to attract a certain kind of people to live in our area," he said. "It's going to attract folks who are looking for a good quality of life and companies that are going to be hiring people, so I think there's a connection there and we can't forget that even now."
Smith said his goal is to have a county government that makes sure services are delivered optimally by the right provider, whether that's through the county or through a partnership with a public or private entity. Impacts and outcomes should drive investments, he said.
"We're looking at the structural reforms that we need to make here within the county that result in institutional fiscal stability," he said. "What we're really investing in is not meeting a mandate, but creating change in the community. And if a mandate drives us away from the change that we want to create, then we minimize the serviceability level of that mandate."
Commissioner Dan Smith, R-Northfield Township, encouraged commissioners to think about the return on investment of each discretionary dollar the county spends.
"Where do we get the maximum leverage of that spare dollar?" he said. "Can we leverage it two times? Three times? Fifteen times? Twenty times?"
County Administrator Verna McDaniel said her administration has been in close talks with the county's work force about the cuts that need to be made. The county will be in negotiations with most of its collective bargaining units this year and is seeking concessions.
"Staff engagement is heavy. We are getting feedback," McDaniel said. "And it is my belief — my firm belief —that they understand the problem and they understand the issue facing the county, and that they're fully engaged and want to be a part of the solution."
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.
Comments
DonBee
Sat, Mar 5, 2011 : 4:57 p.m.
Want more jobs? Want more companies to come here? 1) Minimize the time it takes to get permits, and inspections. Provide inspectors who not only know how to inspect, but can explain what needs to be done to have a successful inspection. Provide a single place to make contact with all the other units of government in the county that do permits and inspections. Right now the reputation outside the area is it is impossible to do anything in the area (Thank Ann Arbor for this reputation) 2) Provide a register of buildings and land that are available in the county, one that is easy to get to on-line. Provide a single place to see the zoning around the county. 3) Ensure an adequate level of road patrol for the WHOLE county. 4) Admit the Road Commission works with the County Commission and find a way to work together to fix the bridges in the county - the county has a reputation outside of the area of not caring about roads and infrastructure I travel almost every week. I see key people from businesses on a regular basis. Beyond the weather, the biggest negative I hear from people is that Washtenaw County does not want to support new business. This is their perception, I work hard to change it, but comments like the ones in this article do not help. They will be on the internet for the next decade.
Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball
Sat, Mar 5, 2011 : 1:58 p.m.
Seems like a non-news article to me. The BOC is focused on one thing - getting re-elected.
PaperTigerSophie
Sat, Mar 5, 2011 : 1:55 p.m.
What I REALLY want to know is . . . . . when are the commissioners going to pay back what they owe, based on the "audit" that was recently finished? What's the hold up? If someone owes taxes, payment is expected immediately. Why are they any different? Is anyone following up on this?
KeepingItReal
Fri, Mar 4, 2011 : 9:35 p.m.
There is very little the county can do to stimulate employment outside of its own organization other than to partner with groups like Spark. It would be a major accomplishment if the County can get its Employment Training Agency to function halfway decently. That agency has spent so much tax payer money and has so little to show for it. Perhaps if the county could get its own employment agency straighten out then maybe they could become a relevant player in stimulating jobs in the county.
Basic Bob
Fri, Mar 4, 2011 : 3:21 p.m.
@Top Cat, the county BOC only appoints the road commissioners (from ex- county commissioners). They also have a liaison. Other than that, they are not responsible. If you want paved and cleared roads, you can vote for county commissioners who understand that it is their responsibility to appoint knowledgeable candidates and have good working relationships with them.
dotdash
Fri, Mar 4, 2011 : 3:18 p.m.
Anybody wondering what the county governments does? There seems to be a fair amount of confusion about it. I recommend pages D-4 and D-5 of this report so you can see where the money is going: county courts, law enforcement (sheriffs), public health, human services, parks and recreation seem the big ones. <a href="http://www.ewashtenaw.org/government/departments/finance/budget/final-budget-2010-2011/Budget%20Summary%202010-11%20Preliminary%20v2.pdf" rel='nofollow'>http://www.ewashtenaw.org/government/departments/finance/budget/final-budget-2010-2011/Budget%20Summary%202010-11%20Preliminary%20v2.pdf</a>
Roadman
Fri, Mar 4, 2011 : 3:06 p.m.
One thing that can help close the structural deficit is to ensure that per diems overpayments aree recouped. According to my research, four commissioners - two sitting and two former - have failed to reimburse tthe county for disbursements found not properly payable by the recent CPA firm audit. These are: (1)Jessica Ping - over $5,000.00; (2)Barbara Levin Bergman - about $1,800.00; (3)Conan Smith - almost $600.00 (4)Ken Schwartz - currently a Road Commissioner pursuant to County Commission appointment after being voted out of office - under $1,000.00 None of these four individuals, to my information, have contested these amounts payable. Have formal demands for repayment been sent to these persons? Will the County Commission consider legal action for recoupment if they continue to be recalcitrant?
Hot Sam
Fri, Mar 4, 2011 : 3:06 p.m.
Perhaps Mr Smith could fill us in on what a "spare dollar" is? We should also remind the commission that it is not their job to create jobs... Every time they start talking like this, we get some new program that we can never get rid of...meanwhile, the roads are crumbling, Firefighters and police officers are losing their jobs, and we're short on money to pay our teachers.
Vivienne Armentrout
Fri, Mar 4, 2011 : 2:33 p.m.
"Smith said his goal is to have a county government that makes sure services are delivered optimally by the right provider, whether that's through the county or through a partnership with a public or private entity. Impacts and outcomes should drive investments, he said." "We're looking at the structural reforms that we need to make here within the county that result in institutional fiscal stability," he said. "What we're really investing in is not meeting a mandate, but creating change in the community. And if a mandate drives us away from the change that we want to create, then we minimize the serviceability level of that mandate." I parse this to mean, "We will spend money according to what (I) want to achieve, not on services that the state has delegated to counties. We will only spend as much on those services as we must to avoid legal sanctions. Meanwhile, we will contract with outside providers at will to achieve the outcomes that we desire." This especially concerns me because Mr. Smith is the director of the Michigan Suburbs Alliance <a href="http://www.michigansuburbsalliance.org/," rel='nofollow'>http://www.michigansuburbsalliance.org/,</a> which has already contracted with the county in some matters. I am concerned that county money will be directed to SPARK, the Suburbs Alliance, and other nonprofit semi-public entities to achieve non-mandated outcomes that benefit a limited number of people.
Kristin Judge
Fri, Mar 4, 2011 : 2:20 p.m.
@topcat Your concerns are valid, but we are the Board of CommissIoners. Your concerns can only be addressed by the Washtenaw County Road Commissioners. We are a separate organization.
Top Cat
Fri, Mar 4, 2011 : 1:30 p.m.
They need to focus on the effective delivery of the kind of basic services that people expect of them. Make sure the roads are paved and then properly cleared of snow and ice during the winter so people and companies can go about their business.
xmo
Fri, Mar 4, 2011 : 1 p.m.
"the economic prosperity of the county should be at the forefront of their minds as they make decisions " So, what was at the forefront of their minds as they made decisions before? Who voted for these people?
Awakened
Fri, Mar 4, 2011 : 12:17 p.m.
Wow! That didn't take long.