County 2012-13 Budget Gets Initial OK
At its Nov. 2, 2011 meeting, the Washtenaw County board of commissioners discussed modifications to the proposed 2012-2013 general fund budget – mostly focused on allocations to the Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) – and took an initial vote authorizing the overall $97 million budget. A final vote could come at the next meeting on Nov. 16. The board later cancelled a working session that had been scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 3.
Budget discussions centered on HSHV, which faces a dramatic funding cut from its current $500,000 contract. As they did two weeks ago, supporters demonstrated in front of the county administration building prior to Wednesday’s meeting, many of them with dogs. Five people spoke during public commentary in support of HSHV funding. The humane society has indicated that the proposed funding is insufficient for the mandated county services they are being asked to provide. The current two-year contract expires at the end of the year.
After extensive discussion, commissioners amended the budget allocations to HSHV in two ways. The line item that originally earmarked $250,000 in annual payments to HSHV in 2012 and 2013 was renamed to “Mandated Animal Control,” a generic reference that reflects the possibility that the county might contract with another agency for those services.
Conan Smith (D-District 10) proposed an amendment to move that line item out of the county’s funding for outside agencies, where it has traditionally been listed, and add it to the budget for the sheriff’s office. The funding could then be combined with a line item of $180,000 that was already part of the sheriff’s budget – for animal control officers. The county recently has discussed the possibility of paying HSHV $250,000 plus $180,000 – a total of $430,000 – if the humane society takes responsibility for the county’s animal control services. The shift in fund categories was approved on a 8-3 vote, with dissent from Rob Turner (R-District 1), Rolland Sizemore Jr. (D-District 5), and Ronnie Peterson (D-District 6).
Sheriff Jerry Clayton spoke to the board during public commentary after the vote, saying he hadn’t been notified that this shift in funding to his office might occur. He expressed some concerns about the decision, saying it’s not clear that his office is in the best position to negotiate for these services. For one thing, the county and the sheriff’s office have different mandates related to animal control, he said, and it’s important not to blur those lines. Clayton also stressed the importance of identifying the specific items that are mandated by the state, the specific services that HSHV provides to fill those mandates, and the itemized costs for those services. He suggested the board take more time to consider all the variables.
Also at Wednesday’s meeting, commissioner Alicia Ping (R-District 3) proposed a budget amendment – which the board passed unanimously – to reallocate $30,000 previously budgeted for the economic development agency Ann Arbor SPARK and shift those funds to the Michigan State University Extension ($15,000) and the Food Systems Economic Partnership ($15,000). The original proposed budget called for SPARK’s allocation to increase from $200,000 in 2011 to $230,000 in both 2012 and 2013. The original budget also funded both the MSU Extension and the Food Systems Economic Partnership at $15,000 annually. Those groups will now receive $30,000 annually.
The proposed budget also eliminates $20,315 in annual dues to the Michigan Association of Counties, and reallocates those funds to the Delonis Center, a homeless shelter in Ann Arbor operated by the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County. That shift of funds, proposed by commissioner Yousef Rabhi, was approved in a vote taken at the board’s Oct. 19 meeting.
The initial vote on the overall budget passed 9-1, with dissent from Sizemore. Felicia Brabec, who was appointed to the board two weeks ago to fill a vacancy in District 7, abstained. Peterson voted yes on the overall budget, but said he wanted the record to show that he was also voting against three specific line items in the budget: (1) elimination of $125,000 in membership dues for the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), (2) cuts to the Humane Society of Huron Valley, and (3) elimination of support in 2013 for Washtenaw Head Start. The county administration has proposed relinquishing administration of that program – federal officials would then be charged with selecting another agency to take over the program.
The board has until the end of the year to give final approval to the budget, but only two more regular meetings are scheduled – on Nov. 16, and Dec. 7. More amendments are expected to be brought forward before the final vote. The budget can also be amended at any time after approval, with a six-vote majority of the board.
This brief was filed from the county administration building at 220 N. Main St. A more detailed report will follow: [link]