Macomb sheriff cites cuts for better budget outlook

CHARLES E. RAMIREZ
The Detroit News (7-13-2010)

Mount Clemens -- The county Sheriff's Office is on track to come under budget for 2010 because of cost-cutting, employee and retiree concessions and attrition, Macomb County Sheriff Mark Hackel said Tuesday.

Hackel said he estimates his department will be under its projected 2010 budget of $43.7 million by at least $1.3 million.

"We're working to keep costs down on a weekly basis," he said. "And we've made adjustments throughout our organization to drive costs down further."

Hackel made the remarks during a presentation to the county Board of Commissioners' Public Safety and Corrections Committee.

The 2010 budget of $43.7 million for the sheriff's office compares with $50.2 million the previous year. Hackel estimates his budget for this year will total about $42.4 million.

Macomb County is wrangling with a projected $23.4 million budget shortfall for 2011, triggered by a $14 million drop in property tax revenue. The county's 2011 budget takes effect on Jan. 1.

The shortfall comes on the heels of a $15.7 million 2010 deficit that the county was able to erase late last year.

As part of the effort, Hackel and county officials trimmed more than $4 million in cuts from the sheriff's 2010 budget, including eliminating 17 positions and closing an annex of the county jail in August.



CHARLES E. RAMIREZ
The Detroit News (7/10/2010)

Mount Clemens -- Simon Haddad and Randell Shafer aren't exactly household names in Macomb County.

The two Republican candidates know they're facing an uphill battle as they face off Aug. 3 for the chance to challenge Democratic Sheriff Mark Hackel this fall to become the county's first full-time executive. But Haddad, a local businessman and entrepreneur, and Shafer, a retired Army chief warrant officer, are giving it a go.

"We're going to wage a spirited battle that gives voters a clear choice, a vision for our county and where we want to go in the future," said Jared Maynard, chairman of the county's Republican Party. Voters last November approved a new charter that creates the county executive position effective Jan. 1, 2011. Hackel is the Democrat's sole candidate in the race and his name will automatically appear on the ballot in November. Voters in the August primary will decide which of the two Republican candidates will run against him in the fall.

If elected, Hackel said he plans to tackle the county's pressing challenges -- such as its budget deficit, falling tax revenues and high unemployment -- working with every county department, getting help from experts and instituting projected, long-term budgets.

Hackel, the son of former Macomb County Sheriff William Hackel, has been actively fundraising. He estimates supporters have contributed between $350,000 and $500,000.

Elected sheriff 10 years ago, Hackel started at the department as a dispatcher in 1981.

"I see the county executive as the CEO who has to pull all the right people together who will make the right plays," said Hackel, 48, of Macomb Township. "The job is providing direction for the county and fixing its problems."

Haddad, 43, of Clinton Township, said he plans to bring his business savvy to county government. Haddad is owner of Audio Trends, a Shelby Township company that sells and installs audio electronic systems in vehicles. He has not held public office.

His priorities are creating jobs in the county, lowering taxes for businesses, cutting government spending, and setting up a system for long-term budgets.

"I know what it takes for businesses to survive here in Macomb County and what it takes to attract jobs," Haddad said. "Long term vision is required. The county can't keep addressing problems year by year."

Haddad declined to say how much he's raised.

The married father of six serves as deputy director of the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance.

Shafer, 46, of St. Clair Shores, says he'll work to trim the budget, bolster the county's manufacturing industry, attract new industries and show case all of the county's best attributes.

Shafer has not held an elected office. He unsuccessfully challenged U.S. Rep. Sander Levin in 2004 and 2006.

"The county is moving in the wrong direction and I want to take it in a more fiscally conservative direction," Shafer said. "The county's budget is bloated and it needs to be reduced."

Like Haddad, Shafer is using his own money and private donations to fund his campaign. He said he's been able to raise less than $5,000.

Shafer is a retired U.S. Army chief warrant officer who spent 20 years in the service, working in supply and logistics. His wife is an active duty soldier, serving in Afghanistan. They have an 11-year-old son.

Under the county's new charter, the executive will run the day-to-day operations of county government for $132,787 a year. The charter also cuts the number of commissioners on the county board in half to 13.

Board members will continue to serve two-year terms, but will represent new districts that were drawn up by an apportionment commission.

Additional Facts

Executive decision
 

This November, Macomb's voters will decide who will be the county's first full-time executive, responsible for running the county's day-to-day operations. But next month, they'll narrow down the field of contenders from three to two.

Here's a look at the candidates on the Aug. 3 primary:

Mark A. Hackel , 48, a Democrat of Macomb Township and the county's sheriff for 10 years. Web site: www.markhackel.com
Simon Haddad , 43. a Republican businessman from Clinton Township. Web site: www.simonhaddad.com
Randall J. Shafer , 46, a Republican from St. Clair Shores who is retired from the U.S. Army. Web site is under construction.
Source: Detroit News research



By Sarah Cormier
C & G Staff Writer

MACOMB COUNTY — Tough economic times are forcing officials everywhere to look at ways to help their budgets’ bottom line.

And Macomb County is no exception.

According to Phil DiMaria, chairman of the Public Safety and Corrections Committee, in the past year, local officials have been looking at combining dispatch services for all Macomb County municipalities. The idea would allow for there to be a centralized dispatch center — at an undetermined location —  where all calls for police, fire and ambulance services from county residents would be dealt with.

“For a considerable length of time, there has been discussion … concerning starting a countywide dispatch and how it would help counties to save millions of dollars,” said DiMaria.

It was recently announced that the Macomb County Office of Emergency Management and Communications is even closer to putting the plan together because it received a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).

DiMaria said some of the money will be given to Roseville, Eastpointe and St. Clair Shores, three communities already working on a mini version of the centralized dispatch by combining their services. The rest will go toward implementing the county plan, and the hope is more grant money will be garnered.

“Now we basically put our money where our mouth is at,” said DiMaria. “There is also more federal money available, but we have to demonstrate to the federal government that we are willing participants.”

Officials estimate that combining dispatch services would save millions of dollars for the county.

“It’s a big step in the right direction; and we are going to be able to provide a significant cost savings to cities across the county; and when you can do that, that’s obviously a big step in the right direction,” said DiMaria.

Macomb County Sheriff Mark Hackel, who worked as a dispatcher for years, is in favor of the plan and said if he becomes county executive, he will make sure it happens.

“It’s definitely something that’s on my agenda as county executive,” he said, adding that there are plenty of federal funds to help make the plan happen.

“There’s a lot of money available for us to start joining our services together and start creating something that will be sufficient for everyone.”

However, Shelby Township Police Chief Robert Leman said a lot of investigation still has to be done before a combined dispatch becomes a reality.

“It’s something that the county got, and obviously, as chiefs, we’ll be looking at it to see if we could benefit from it,” he said. “Any time you share services there’s a savings, but other times … there’s some issues, too.”

He said a regional dispatch could mean callers lose some of the “personal contact” they receive by calling a local municipality.

“When it goes to regional, it’s something that the public would definitely have to get used to,” Leman said. “Obviously, we’re looking at all sorts of ways to provide the services to the citizens in the most cost-effective ways, so our ears would be open to discussion on it.”

Leman said he anticipates that the idea will have to get the consensus of the Chiefs Association of Macomb County before even going to local municipal leaders, but he said it certainly would save money in cash-strapped times. Combined services, if they happen, would be at least two to three years off, he estimated, after the legal and logistical ramifications are figured out.

“You definitely streamline your personnel,” he said. “That’s the reason why you get into it. It comes down to dollars and cents.”

Staff Writer Kristyne Demske contributed to this report.

You can reach Staff Writer Sarah Cormier at scormier@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1095.

More effective government needed to increase jobs and economic development

By Mark Hackel
Democratic candidate for county Executive

    I am running to become Macomb County executive because I can lead the process to reinvent county government, create positive change and bring this county back to greatness.
    The decision to get into the race was not an easy one. I love being sheriff. It’s a job which I am very passionate about. But I feel I can do more for the residents of Macomb County by serving as county executive.
    The challenges facing Macomb County are enormous. So instead of fixing blame, we need someone to fix the problems. I am that person. Throughout my tenure as sheriff, I have been a problem-solver. I have built a team that has made the Sheriff’s Office one of the most respected and effective law enforcement agencies in the state of Michigan. I did that by building bridges and bringing people to the table. I am going to bring this same team concept to the Macomb County Executive’s office. My team is going to consist of subjectmatter experts who are passionate about what they do and who want to help tap the tremendous potential that awaits Macomb County.
    My No. 1 priority is governance and restructuring county government. We must make Macomb County government more effective and efficient and focus on essential and mandated programs and services.
    My second priority addresses jobs and economic development. We must grow our tax base and create economic opportunities for our residents. Government cannot create jobs, but it can and must create an environment that is inviting to business.
    My third priority is enhancing the quality of life for Macomb County residents. This involves improving our infrastructure and leveraging and protecting our great natural resources, including Lake St. Clair, Macomb County’s Great Lake, as well as our streams and rivers.
    I have crafted a comprehensive plan that I have released on my website, www.markhackel.com. In it, I detail how I will vigorously pursue each priority. Regarding county governance, I will work diligently to streamline operations and make county government more responsive to its citizens.
    I will employ a better budgeting process and switch to a 5-year budget cycle. I will also collaborate more with our local governments to see how we can share costs and services and maximize our resources. In this regard, it is noteworthy to point out that I am the only candidate in the race who has ever managed and balanced multimillion dollar budgets. I have consistently operated the Sheriff’s Office budget at a surplus. I will bring these proven financial management skills to the County Executive’s office.
    As for economic development and job creation, I will engage all local partners and interested parties to create an environment that will help Macomb County firms grow and add jobs. I will work to increase access to capital and financing for companies and improve our support services to small businesses. I will rebrand Macomb County and aggressively market it domestically and internationally, especially our emerging defense industry. We will flex our manufacturing muscle once again by helping our tool and die shops and stamping plants gain new business. As county executive, I will be a forceful advocate for Macomb County and Macomb businesses at the state and federal levels.
    Finally, Macomb County is already an outstanding place to live, work, play and prosper. But we can make it even better by strengthening our quality of life and improving our infrastructure. I will work to make Lake St. Clair and the Clinton River pristine once again by protecting these great natural resources and position our 31-mile coastline for tourism, recreation and economic development. I will reinvigorate our parks and recreation system. There is no way I am going to let our only county park, Freedom Hill, remain dormant. I will also work to enhance our existing transportation assets, including roads and airports, to both foster economic growth and bring convenience to residents.
    Macomb County residents know from my 10 years as sheriff that I am not someone who only makes an appearance every four years just before an election. I am engaged in Macomb County every day of the year.
    As sheriff, my door has always been open. It will remain open as county executive. I will also govern with the same integrity, ethics and trustworthiness that have defined my career as a public servant.
    A major theme of my campaign is that I will bring “AAA” government to Macomb County. By AAA, I mean that I will be accountable and accessible and will also be an advocate for citizens and businesses. The county has never been empowered to have someone make this type of pledge. But this pledge will define my administration.
    I look forward to serving the residents of Macomb County as their first county executive. I will work tirelessly to create a Macomb County government that is responsive, progressive and proactive and one that speaks with a unified and powerful voice.