By By JESSICA SIEFF / Niles Daily Star
NILES – This week the Star hears from the two candidates for Niles Charter Township Treasurer. Two Republicans are vying for the spot. Those candidates are James Ringler and Tammy Youngs. Each candidate was provided with questions regarding their campaign for treasurer and some of the issues facing the people of Niles Township.
James Ringler has been serving as treasurer for Niles Charter Township since 1996. The Brandywine High School graduate with a degree from Western Michigan University has also served as a member of the Public Safety and Finance &Administration committees. He is a former volunteer auxiliary policeman and fireman for the township and chairman of the Berrien County Treasurer's Association.
As township treasurer, Ringler lists improving the Public Works infrastructure, updating fire and rescue equipment, providing for a new playground for township parks and the building of Fire Station No. 2 as accomplishments he says have encouraged "responsible spending while keeping taxes low."
Why have you chosen to run for the seat of township board treasurer?
I want to continue to serve this great community as your treasurer and I am dedicated to protecting and overseeing the financial accounting of the township. Everyone should be aware of what just happened in the Village of Three Oaks. Left broke and being overseen by the State of Michigan, this is what can occur when proper procedures and controls are not in place. Whether this was due to inexperience or just plain incompetence, it will not happen under my watch. I am a candidate with a proven and successful track record of sound financial management.
What kinds of qualifications do you feel you bring to the position of township treasurer?
I have been the treasurer for the Township for the past 12 years. I also serve as chairman of the Berrien County Treasurers' Association. I have been involved with 12 successful audits by independent CPAs, all showing the township's books and accounts in excellent shape according to United States generally accepted accounting principles. I have continually attended treasurer's workshops offered by the Michigan Townships Association furthering my knowledge in Michigan treasury law. I have a bachelors degree in Science from Western Michigan University plus Masters level courses in Public Administration from WMU.
What is ahead for the township in regards to its financial standing? Concerns?
At our last meeting, our auditors presented the financial report to the Board and the community. It was a very positive report with findings of our books in great shape and our accounts were found to be very stable compared to townships our size. We currently have an A rating with Dunn &Bradstreet and that is the result of sound financial accounting principles being applied. It doesn't take a long period of financial mismanagement to destroy what has taken years to establish. It is important that we maintain experience in this position to insure this won't happen to our township. One concern facing the township is the police protection funding.
What are your solutions to these issues/concerns?
With reductions of over $200,000 annually in the general fund due to State Revenue Sharing declines, the general fund will continually be strained as costs go up. We need to shore up police protection funding or reduce police protection services to maintain a sound financial position for the future of the Township. The passage of the proposed millage will relieve some of the pressure off our general fund and allow the Township to improve in other areas such as roads, parks, and other local services expected by our residents.
What are your thoughts on the police millage that is up for vote?
The police millage on the ballot is a very important consideration for our voters. All communities our size have dedicated funding for police and fire services. Niles Charter Township never has approved funding for any police operations and with today's costs of personnel, equipment and training that it takes to fund such an operation, it needs to have dedicated funding. The issue of who we contract with for these operations is a board decision. I believe that the service we have received from the Berrien County Sheriff's Department has been nothing less than outstanding. We told voters when we first contracted with the County that if they performed to our expectations that we would ask them to support it with some funding. That is where are today, asking voters to help with some of the funding for the safety of the community that we all live in.
What do you feel the people of the township should be informed of regarding current issues/your position and your opponent's position – that they may not be aware of now?
The biggest issue is that the treasurer's position is no place for inexperience. We now collect and distribute over 10 million tax dollars annually on 6,923 parcels twice a year for three local school districts, Lake Michigan College, the ISD, plus all the other entities we collect and distribute taxes to. This comes fast and furious and you must know what you're doing from the start or you could easily wind up like up like the Village of Three Oaks, "broke" and under "state review."
I believe the issue of the county patrolling the township instead of the City of Niles is blown out of proportion. The county was chosen for many reasons, one being that in the long term it was less expensive and that is true. I was responsible for performing the analysis of the two contracts and over a three-year period it was projected to save $ 1,478 by contracting with the county. That is not a huge amount money but it was a savings. What we are impressed with is the fact that the county came in under the proposed budget and saved the township an additional $ 74,592 in the first two years of contracting plus we never have to purchase cars or equipment in the future. Why would anyone want to look elsewhere when they have proven to be cost effective and performed above our expectations. My opponent's position is to have the City of Niles police department patrol Niles Township. She has made it very clear at Township Board meetings that those are her intentions along with her father's, Jim Kidwell, who is running for Township Supervisor.
This brings up the issue of nepotism. We've seen what can happen when relatives are in elected office together serving and voting on the same board by looking at the town of Roseland in Indiana.