By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
Just as some functions of county government went away in the early 1990s, more services are expected to join them on the scrap heap in the next few years because of stubborn resistance to additional taxes.
Dowagiac Rotary Club got its first glimpse Thursday at what county government might look like by 2010 courtesy of County Administrator Terry Proctor.
Proctor predicts that happening with other county operations, such as the parks system and the Historical Commission.
Core services that survive will likely be responding to crime and swift prosecution to alleviate further overcrowding of the bulging jail.
Technology will be relied on even more than now.
Partnerships, whether with Dowagiac, townships and Van Buren and St. Joseph counties, will be more prevalent, Proctor said, echoing a Nov. 1 comment by Mayor Don Lyons.
There are different levels of “mandates,” Proctor pointed out, with some services required by the federal government, other requirements emanating from Lansing and some even from local citizens.
For example, Cass County is not required to have 4-H programs or Michigan State University Extension, “but locally it has been a very high priority and any time you talk about cutting it you're in deep trouble,” he said.
Road patrol was cut in 1990-91. “We're on that road” again, Proctor said. “There are lots of things we're used to and we like that are not mandated. A scary time.”
Dentist Dr. Matthew Cripe asked, “Why did they have all these programs before and now you have to cut them all back? Where was the money before?”
In Michigan, the Legislature gives counties but one option.
While the county board could put a millage before the Cass electorate in August, Proctor said there was no consensus for that at the retreat.
Benefits will continue to evolve, whether it's health care or dental coverage.
Commissioners held their strategic planning retreat last Saturday at Edward Lowe Foundation's Billieville in Penn Township and “focused on change, change and more change,” Proctor said Thursday noon at Elks Lodge 889. “That's where we've been the last two years and that's where we're headed, in my opinion, for at least the next five years.”
In his remarks, Proctor drew on an article by Frank Benest of Palo Alto on downsizing organizations.
For 2006-07, which starts next Oct. 1, “None of us are expecting a bailout from either the federal or state governments, so it looks like we're going to have to reduce the size of county government further, as well as use more of the fund balance,” Proctor said.
Over the past two years of fiscal storm clouds gathering, “An awful lot of opportunities have been taken to prepare the environment for change, within the organization and within the community,” Proctor said. “The toughest part we've had to deal with is building political support for a reduction of county government. People have been very happy with the size of county government and the response time when you call for services, whether it's the Sheriff's Office or Animal Control.
Proctor spoke as the guest of Rotarian Bob Wagel, chairman of the Board of Commissioners, with whom he has worked for 11 years.