Kalkaska County preparing for year(s) to come?

While the rest of the world counts seconds ticking down to 2012, Kalkaska County may be counting the number of trailing zeroes that make up its debt amount.

Still considered financially solvent (perhaps with a gracious curve and bite of lip), the county has a great deal to ponder if it wants to avoid the dreaded Financial Manager from Lansing marching through the county doors and carelessly chopping heads.

Alas, a major budget meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, Dec. 28, just before the calendar rolls over to the big twenty-twelve.

County commissioners took very public steps to make the daunting task of completing a balanced budget seem possible, or, perhaps easy. Ha! Good luck! The main objective of hiring "The Axe Man" from downstate was to aid in meetings, such as the one everybody is looking forward to tomorrow. For that reason, the county felt it appropriate to allocate $10,000 for an outsider to gather some documents and talk to department heads throughout the county - with the noted exception of the prosecutor (I won't go there) - ultimately rendering his views on where the county should make budget cuts. And what was this glorified, ultra-super-extraordinarily important recommendation? Seize outstanding assets for repayment (i.e. the county-owned Kaliseum) and take money from the county's law enforcement departments.

"OK?"

"OK."

So, not too much of a big surprise were Axe's suggestions for the upcoming budget, but the county has much more to consider than pulling allocations from two county departments. And, if those two departments could solely balance the county's budget, then they must be incredibly well-off... Right? If you can't decide for yourself, here's some hints: 1) the county jail is crumbling, 2) crime rates anyone? 3) many feel the prosecutor isn't doing his job, therefore he is in the middle of recall efforts - just to name a few.

The only thing left for Kalkaska County residents is to attend the meeting tomorrow and watch what the commissioners can do to conjure a miracle for a once thriving community that has fallen into a fiscal calamity (that's a hyperbole - I wouldn't exactly say "calamity").

As always, The Leader will provide coverage of the county's meeting, scheduled for 4 p.m. at the county government center on Birch Street. Maybe we'll see you there?

See you soon. 

Bryce Martin - Leader & Kalkaskian Editor