KALKASKA -- Kalkaska county leaders are shocked after their plan to cut close to 3-quarters of a million dollars from the budget has been completely changed.
Commissioner Debbie Kimbell tells 7&4 news that what really took her off guard was how extensive the changes are.
Originally they planned to reduce county employee wages and hours but now 2 entire departments will be cut.
That original budget was just approved last week but at an organizational meeting last night -- newly elected Chairman Mike Cox made a surprise announcement that he was throwing that plan out the window.
Instead he's going to cut the Michigan State Extension Office and the Soil Conservation District.
Chairman of the Kalkaska County Commission Mike Cox says, “I don't want to make those cuts but I have to make the cuts it's my duty to make those cuts, I know those people I feel bad but it has to be done when you cannot afford everything."
A 4 to 3 vote at Monday night’s Kalkaska Commissioners meeting sealed the fate of two huge county departments.
The Michigan State Extension Office and the Soil Conservation District are gone as a part of the $700,000 in cuts for the 2011 budget.
Board Chairman Mike Cox says it made sense to cut non-mandated departments, "It's unfortunate that we had to cut youth programs but on the other hand people in the areas I serve are more concerned about law enforcement and having detectives available and feeling safe in their homes."
Michigan State Extension and the Conservation District say that it's hard to understand how a cut like this can be justified and that their programs will be missed by the Kalkaska community.
Manager of the Kalkaska Conservation District Russ Larowe says, "Recreation programs, MSU extension, baseball soccer, the cart walking trail the horse project where they have horse programming-so if we cut those programs we cut the people who spend the most money on taxes. Their kids, their families end up receiving the least benefit from tax dollars."
By cutting Michigan State Extension--the popular 4-H Youth Development Program will be gone.
MSU Extension District Coordinator Patrick Cudney says, "This would be the only county in the state of Michigan without a 4-H Youth Development Program and that's just the youth development part."
Cudney goes on to say Kalkaska will also miss out agriculture, economic development and health programs.
Cox says the departments may be gone but programs can still continue, "There’s no reason these programs can’t continue under some different area it doesn't have to be sponsored under 4-H."
The commission will meet next Wednesday to finalize plans to go forward with cutting these departments. Representatives from both the Michigan State Extension Office and the Soil Conservation District say they will be there for their last chance to voice their concerns.
