Ortonville – The cost of education has long been a point of note to Ortonville Village Council member Mary Kassuba, who, on a number of occasions has addressed cutting down on the cost of council education.
After snapping criticism about lack of educational support, Village President Sue Bess told Kassuba that the education which council members have received over the years saved the village a lot of money.
‘The taxpayers are the ones losing in the end however,? said Kassuba at the Monday, Jan. 12, council meeting. ‘The problem is with the money, due to state cuts.?
‘As far as education is concerned I would never, ever, vote against it for an employee, but I firmly believe as council members, and with us being in a financial crunch we should cut back a bit,? said Kassuba.
Bess contends, however, that conferences and seminars are a way of staying on top of important municipal issues.
The debate followed a request by council newcomer Gina Joy Roemer to attend an upcoming Michigan Municipal League legislative conference.
Roemer stated she intends to acquire the league’s Political Academy credentials. The conference, held in Frankenmuth, Mich. in January, will launch the first core of the academy.
Again Kassuba addressed the cost of municipal education, stating she is extremely concerned about the money being spent. The village has already financially supported academy credentials for President Pro Tem Kay Green, said Kassuba.
‘We’ve been paying for Kay’s academy credentials for years,? argued Kassuba ‘Now we get to pay for another one to go through the academy??
‘If that’s the case it’s going to cost the village a lot of money over a lot of years and the issue here is the money.? Kassuba said.
In 2001-2002 the village budgeted $6,000 for conferences and education. Green and Bess were the only council members to draw from the fund for a total of $1,593. In 2002-2003 $6,300 was budgeted but only $1,705 was spent. The 2003-2004 educational budget was reduced to $6,000.
Village of Goodrich Manager Jakki Sidge says they maintain an educational budget of $9,000 for all village employees as well as enforcement officers, planning and zoning commissions, the Department of Public Works, and council. As of April 2003 only $6,800 was used.
Steve Allen, Village President of Oxford, a municipality similar in size to Ortonville, said while education is responsible spending, state budget cuts will affect their budget as they maintain an educational cache of $3,000 for council.
‘We all need to lighten up a little on what we spend money on,? said Allen.
Only two Oxford council members use the educational funds per year on a rotating basis, and council members are required to bring educational materials back to council.
‘We watch closely who’s going,? he said. ‘In a community our size we can’t afford to send everyone every year.?
Kassuba said she is not opposed to new council members, such as Joy, or the village manager attending educational seminars. Spending, however, should be a consideration with the upcoming state revenue cuts impacting the village budget. Roemer offered to pay her own seminar fee, however council approved the $100 fee to be paid by the village.
The conference is for elected officials core one for elected officials academy core weekend
Roemer states she would not be opposed to paying because she knows nothing about local government and wants to better serve the tax payers. The seminar will enable her to earn CEU & EOA credits toward the academy.