12/3/13 - Despite challenges and concerns with numerous service demands, a balanced budget that maintains all current programs and services in the face of new economic realities was adopted by the Livingston County Board of Commissioners Monday night. The $40.8 (m) million budget allows for the expansion of several employee positions and includes a 1.18% wage increase for elected officials excluding commissioners and judges reflective of the increase in taxable value from 2012 to 2013. A wage study is also possible in the future. Chairwoman Carol Griffith tells WHMI a great amount of gratitude is owed to the administration, department directors and staff who have all worked timelessly for the benefit of residents. Griffith says there are positive signs of recovery but they see it to be slow so as stewards of public trust, the county board must continue to be prudent and financially conservative in preparing for 2014 operations. She tells WHMI there are several challenges facing the county in the upcoming year and a number of concerns in an evolving economy such as escalating requirements to fund liabilities for pension and retiree health insurance, a decrease in personal property tax revenue and the potential that a few townships will not be able to meet their contractual obligations and pay the debt service on bonds that carry the backing of the countyâs full faith and credit. A number of positions have been eliminated from various departments since the recession hit and Griffith says road patrols will be another topic of consideration in strategic planning, which are much diminished from 2004. Three new corrections officers are being added at the Livingston County Jail and talks of a future expansion are ongoing. Also included in the 2014 budget was the creation of a new deputy county administrator position to be shared amongst three current employees who will receive a stipend as compensation for their expanded responsibilities. They are the Countyâs Chief Information Officer, Financial Officer and an EMS Business Manager. Two-part time paid interns will serve as county support staff while a part time aide for Human Resources will also be added. A Quality Assurance Supervisor position will be added at 911 Central Dispatch along with one part time employee at Animal Control. The Livingston Essential Transportation Service or L.E.T.S will undergo a departmental reorganization and one additional full time driver is being added. Commissioner Dave Domas brought up some concerns with the administrative staffing changes during discussion prior to the unanimous budget adoption but a motion to handle that matter separately failed to pass. He questioned how effective the employees will be in taking on additional tasks and felt the board should examine other options, potentially a panel to analyze the overall needs of administration. (JM)
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