ST. JOSEPH — County commissioners spoke out at Thursday’s meeting against a proposal to cut the number of commissioners from 13 to 12.

Marletta Seats, 3rd District commissioner, was the most vocal, arguing that the savings of eliminating one commissioner would not be worth the loss of leadership.

“To lose individuals or an individual who is such an asset to our county is puzzling,” she said during her commissioner report.

Cathy Thieneman, 5th District commissioner, said she was “disheartened” and feels that considering to remove a commissioner suggests they aren’t worth their pay.

“I’ve personally sacrificed a lot to do this,” she said.

The county apportionment commission, made up of Prosecutor Art Cotter, Treasurer Bret Witkowski, Republican County Chair Stephen Smith, Democratic County Chair Shirley Stansberry and County Clerk Louise Stine, is working to remap the district — a task counties in the state must do after every decennial census.

The 2010 census showed the number of county residents fell 3.5 percent from 162,453 in 2000 to 156,813.

The commission voted to keep the 13-district format at a meeting two weeks ago. But at Wednesday’s meeting Cotter, who had supported an 11-district map, presented a 12-district plan as a compromise.

According to the meeting minutes, Stine said she would prefer an 11-district plan but agreed to review the 12-district plan. All the other representatives on the apportionment commission also agreed to review the plan.

Several other counties in Michigan, including Cass, have eliminated districts as a way of cutting costs. Cass County elected to go from 14 commissioners to seven in a move that the treasurer calculated would save the county $590,000 over eight years.

The average Berrien County commissioner makes about $31,000 a year in base pay, benefits and per diem, according to County Administrator Bill Wolf.

The apportionment commission will have three more meetings — May 16, 17 and 31 at the County Administration Center, 701 Main St. in St. Joseph. The meetings on May 16 and 31 are at noon, while the May 17 meeting is at 6 p.m.

The deadline for the county to submit the district map to the state is June 6. To view the proposed maps, visit berriencounty.org/CountyClerk/apportionment.