Leelanau County Commissioners Are Back To Square One With Their 2011 Budget
LEELANAU COUNTY -- Leelanau County voters rejected a millage to fund the county's emergency dispatch services.
Now County Commissioners must figure out a new plan to pay for dispatch center.
"The bottom line is it was rejected and we have to go from there," said County Advisor Eric Cline.
Leelanau County Commissioners are back to square one for their 2011 budget.
Voters said no to a 911 millage that would have given the county roughly $1 million to fund its emergency dispatch services.
The 911 millage would have been a four-year property tax.
It would have increased from .375 to .425 -- that's a 13% increase from the millage that ends in December.
County Officials say they will have to make cuts in other areas to make up for the millage loss. But the question is where will the cuts be made?
"We're going to have to probably look at transferring funds from other areas of the budget. The overall goal will be to have as minimal impact on the public as possible," said Cline.
Leelanau County Sheriff Mike Oltersdorf says it's absolutely necessary they figure something out.
"The dispatch center is a lifeline for the residents of Leelanau County," said Oltersdorf. "It's not just a matter of having a person at a telephone answering -- it's dispatching medical services, fire services, police service, and having someone available 24 hours a day for the residents to depend on."
County Administrator Eric Cline says this is a big financial decision and they don't want to rush it.
He says working out the budget is top priority and the county will find a way to cover the loss. County leaders have until October to figure out their 2011 budget plan.
