Despite the upcoming inaugeration of President Barack Obama, the Clarkston area still faces economic troubles.
Bob Daddow, Oakland County deputy county executive for special projects, explained them to Independence Township Board, Jan 6.
‘I would strongly suggest you plan two or three years out in your operating budget,” Daddow said. “If you don’t, you’re going to get crushed and it’s going to be a huge problem.”
Problems included rising unemployment, declining auto industry, and state budget problems, which ‘impacts the principle revenue source, which is property taxes,” he said.
Supervisor Dave Wagner said the report was ‘very eye opening.?
‘Fortunately for us, over the last four years, we have brought order to our financial house,” Wagner said. “We implemented a lot of changes. We still need a lot of changes to help us through this crisis.?
Treasurer Curt Carson said budgeting 2-3 years ahead was something he talked about on the campaign trail.
‘It’s one of the things we are going to be sitting down, talking about,? he said. ‘I can tell you this board is very big on watching our expenses and what’s going on. We will continue to do that.?
Clerk Shelagh VanderVeen invited Daddow to speak because she thought it was important for board members and department heads.
‘We have to look at ways we can work more efficiently and save wherever we can. I think one of the things we’re doing is we’re having a workshop on capital improvement plans,? she said. ‘Maybe we can start brainstorming there and come up with some idea. We haven’t really had chance to sit down and brainstorm as a board. We’re still digesting all of that information.?
Wagner agreed with VanderVeen, and said he is meeting with department heads over the next few weeks to further discuss ways to cut costs and conserve energy.
‘We’ve been very fortunate over these past few years with the revenue savings; we’ve been able to do with the help of the different departments,? he said. ‘I look forward to the further measures we will be implementing in 2009.?
VanderVeen said she realized after listening to Daddow’s report problems were not just on a state or local level, but also on a global level.
Trustee David Lohmeier thought the same thing.
‘He did a good job, I thought, quantifying the risk, not just his economy forecast for tax revenues, but sharing with us ‘here’s the state picture that may cascade down in a worse case situation,” said Lohmeier. ‘It would make you take pause and be very careful about spending decisions, all the more reason that we need to be looking at every dime.?