Comments on: Meeting Watch: County Board (1 Oct 2008)

By: Jeff Irwin

Jeff Irwin — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:29:51 +0000

Wow, it looks like the Chronicle has certainly attracted readership from us County Commissioners.

Two small details concerning the Veterans’ Services discussion and resolution. The final resolution of this matter did not differentiate between “direct services” and “administrative costs.” The additional taxing authority may be seen as meant to cover the staff costs (administrative) of the program and ensure that enough funds are available for serving indigent veterans and their families. However, the additional revenue (up from $315,000 to $395,000 in round numbers) will not cover all of the roughly $130,000 in staff costs that are estimated to be directed toward serving eligible vets. In other words, Commissioner Peterson effectively ended any further debate on the issue when he agreed that the efforts of our staff are “direct services.”

Also, under both proposals (1/40th of a mill and 1/50th of a mill) there would be additional dollars for providing services to veterans and their families in our community. Prior to our action on Wednesday, the citizens of Washtenaw County provided 700K in General Fund revenue (2009 budget) to the Veteran Services Department. Should the Board of Commissioners approve the Administrator’s recommendations concerning the 2009 budget, $241,000 will be pulled back to the General Fund. These funds will be replaced by the new revenue from the Indigent Veterans Relief millage. In other words, the County will be shifting $241,000 of the taxpayers’ money out of Veterans Services and back towards other county services. That appropriation will be replaced by $395,000 from the new millage revenue. In other words, it is a partial shift and a partial increase of resources directed towards services for indigent Veterans and their families.

Thanks to the Chronicle for covering Washtenaw County Government.

By: Mary Morgan

Mary Morgan — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 14:06:19 +0000

Leah, thanks for your comments. It’s clear that the county’s Library for the Blind is a special place – no wonder people feel so passionately about it – and that’s a real credit to the people who work there. I think everyone hopes that the AADL will be able to create a similar space/environment somehow. But it’s also clear (based on several comments I heard in the audience) that there’s a great deal of frustration and skepticism about what will happen next. That will be a challenge to overcome.

So you and Ronnie weren’t playing tic-tac-toe?

By: Leah Gunn

Leah Gunn — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 12:08:02 +0000

Interesting remark about “Boy, does she have them snowed”. The audience member obviously does not have a clue. Josie Parker is a thoroughly professional library director, and her proposal saves a vital service. If the AADL had not made this offer, the service by mail would have reverted to the State of Michigan, and the programs (book club, art classes, etc.) would have been abolished. And, all of this is being paid for by the property taxes of the residents of the AADL District, the bulk of whom live in the City of Ann Arbor, as well as Ann Arbor, Pittsfield & Scio Townships (it is the same as the AA School District). Many thanks to them as well as to the AADL Board for their generosity.

My last note to Ronnie Peterson concerning the Veterans’ millage was a thank you. And yes, humor does help! Conan and Mark provide a good deal of it.

By: Mary Morgan

Mary Morgan — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 01:50:37 +0000

Conan, our national political leaders could take some tips from the way you two work together. More humor, please!

By: Conan Smith

Conan Smith — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 00:51:01 +0000

Just a note on the quip . . . Mark and I pride ourselves on bringing a good bit of levity to our board meetings. I had been rather distracted by the left side of the room, so Mark’s jibe was pretty well placed. My only viable excuse was to blame it on my parentage!