The good, the bad and the ugly; it was all on the table in one version or another as officials from across the Orion area came together Thursday to discuss the potential for collaboration between entities.
Deputy Oakland County Executive Bob Daddow gave officials from the Village of Lake Orion, Orion Township, Lake Orion Community Schools and the Orion Township Library a snapshot of the current economic situation and what it means for local municipalities.
‘Take what you see in the newspaper, close your eyes, think about your worst nightmare and double it,? Daddow said. ‘Because the media doesn’t get it right. Not even close. They don’t understand the depth of the problem.?
The depth of Michigan’s financial problems, he explained, are ‘considerably more severe? than most people believe.
And if municipalities can expect a rough road in the years ahead’Daddow reiterated assertions that tax revenues will not return to 2007 levels until about 2025’schools will find themselves in even worse shape.
‘The school aid fund has over-expended other funds? cash to the tune of a billion five,? he said. ‘You like your roads? The school aid fund borrowed 400 million from the road system. Enjoy.?
Current projections, he explained, put the Sept. 30, 2011 school aid fund at about $100,000 in equity.
‘Folks, that’s four minutes of equity,? Daddow said, noting the solution in Lansing generally involves pushing the problem down the road, as well as down to local units.
Orion Township Supervisor Matthew Gibb told those gathered at the catered event it was time for each of the entities to step outside the proverbial box in order to survive as a community.
‘Do we have the courage to become creative?? he asked. ‘Do we have the courage to put down our ideology that we are each an entity onto ourselves??
Despite the dismal outlook, Gibb also shared positive news.
For example, he said, Orion’s GM plant is scheduled to reopen next year, Pipe Systems is moving to town from Troy with 68 employees, and the Lear Corporation is looking at moving into the neighborhood, as well.
‘If they do what they’re supposed to do in the IFT application, by 2013 we’ll have up to 400 brand new employees who work for the Lear Corporation,? he said
‘We’ve got restaurants looking and coming in with site plans, we’ve had preapplication meetings for new developments.?
In 2009, Gibb noted, the township had one site plan application, and five new residential construction permits. This year, so far, four new residential construction permits have been issued.
Gibb also told his audience about ‘Big things? in his ideology.
‘We all duplicate services,? he said. ‘We have a police department and the village has a police department. The township does asphalt and the schools do. We all buy things. We all buy the same stuff. We don’t do anything together.?
Water and sewer was is a big issue, he said.
‘We both have water and sewer departments,? Gibb said. ‘Why does the village buy water from the township when we have all the equipment and can do it for a fraction of the cost? It makes no sense. Zero sense.?
And while Gibb said he wasn’t looking to ‘dismantle the village,? he did allude to a unified identity.
‘I call Orion a region,? he said. ‘When we launched Advantage Orion we didn’t say anything about the township in any of that stuff. We don’t say ‘Lake Orion.? We’re Orion Public Schools, Orion Library, we’re just Orion at this point.?
The schools have a role in his plan, as well, he said.
‘How the schools fit into this is very simple,? Gibb explained. ‘Your life depends on how many students the rest of us can get to move here.?
Lake Orion Community Schools? Trustee Bob Gritzinger was also on hand, and said in light of massive impending budget reductions, the district needs to concentrate on its students.
‘In tough financial times we need to focus on our core, what we do,? he said. ‘We teach kids. Things that aren’t core to us, we need to find a way to partner on those things, identify those things.?
Lake Orion Village Manager Paul Zelenak was a strong voice in the meeting, suggesting each entity assemble an ‘honest? list of it’s own strengths and weaknesses before coming back together for further study.
Members of the groups agreed to Zelenak’s idea, and will come together in the weeks ahead to discuss findings and continue down the road.