TANTON, Mich. (WOOD) — In Montcalm County, the judges and the Board of Commissioners are at odds over budget cuts coming to the courts. It’s a situation that could end with the judge taking the county to court.
County commissioners are expected to make a final decision at their Monday evening meeting about $82,000 in cuts they previously approved for the operation of the district court.
District Court Judge Donald Hemingsen said in a letter to the commission that he has no intention of implementing those cuts.
This is hardly the first Montcalm County has struggled with its budget. In at least 13 of the last 15 years, it has operated at a deficit. Voters have rejected tax increases. Last year, among other staffing cuts, it eliminated more than 10 positions from its sheriff’s department to save more than $771,000.
“We essentially have contract deputies now and how do you continue to cut there? Public safety is extremely important,” said Robert Clingenpeel, Montcalm County controller-administrator.
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