Saginaw County Sheriff's Millage

Now that the voters of Saginaw County, all 16% of them, have passed a 1-mill tax increase to save the sheriff's department and the county jail from deeper cuts, perhaps the addition of an extra $4.4 million will provide a cushion for making real budgetary reforms.  Now that eminent threats to cuts in public safety have been suspended, at least temporarily, perhaps thoughtful and serious negotiations with our employee unions could lead to additional and lasting savings down the road.  Without fixing our structural deficits, I fear we will only replay this scenario once again in the very near future.  As I and so many others have said before, we cannot continue to tax and spend our way to prosperity.

What I am afraid will happen however will be just the opposite.  While the $4.4 million have ostensibly been advertised to save 35 jobs and 160 beds in our county jail, I hope the unions don't see this as found money and think it's time to increase their ranks or raise compensation and benefits.  Yes I am aware that county employees, for the most part, have not had a raise is some time, but the county will still be spending more than it takes in this year and for the foreseeable future.  Our budgets are unsustainable, such as they are, and must be addressed, lest we concede local control and authority to Lansing managers.  As I recall, thousands of union protesters recently filled our state's capitol in protest to emergency financial manager legislation.  Where will they stand in helping to keep Saginaw County solvent, prosperous, and growing?