In our current budget year (2010) we are expecting that County Program Aid (CPA) and Market Value Credits (MVC) will be reduced by $1.6 million.

Those are anticipated aids from the state that will not be forthcoming. This follows the news that since 2008 we have lost a total of approximately $5 million in total state aid.

One would have to be dreaming to believe that the current legislative session will restore many of those aids and not cut into further grants that might have been anticipated.

Can we afford to stand around saying, "Woe to us?" I don't think so. Too many of our adjoining counties and cities are facing the same news, and we must continue to search for meaningful ways to get better in leaner times.

Over the past couple of years our county restructured and refocused many of our departments. In spite of reducing our work force by nearly 50 full-time equivalents, my constituents are not complaining of a reduction in services. In many cases the service has improved, and our workers are feeling more like they work for a team.

Yes, the state and feds have reduced many of the supports. Some volunteers are now only going to be reimbursed mileage for "loaded" miles. Pressure will be put on counties to pick up the other miles.Ê

Do they provide a valuable service? Undoubtedly. Can we afford staff to do the same? Questionable.

Rather than point fingers and say "they" started that program, why do "we" have to pick it up, how about if we just focus on the many who already willingly volunteer and encourage more who can afford to help their neighbors to join in?Ê

What can we do to change liability and labor laws to let willing volunteers participate more fully in a variety of tasks? Or how about a tax credit rather than a payment? We will be facing many tough and interesting choices on all levels in the days ahead.Ê

What might have been more controversial historically is by necessity now considered. Only 27 of the 87 counties in Minnesota have both an auditor and treasurer's office. A public hearing on combining them will be held this week to consider our options. In excess of $100,000 per year could be saved if combined.

It is not a done deal; just a consideration among many considerations. Public input is appreciated.

Vital services will remain, and efficiencies will improve. But it will not be without careful evaluation of what we want to do and what we have to do. With the rate of taxation having been reduced in each of the last three years we are moving in the right direction. The pressures to do more things will continue, but for the time being the additions will be in what we have to do, not what we want to do.Ê

Taxpayers are rightfully demanding accountability and transparency in everything we do because they are feeling the pinch every bit as much as the government.

I believe this county, in concert with the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC), has not only been offering suggestions but also implementing improvements in how we conduct business.

Thankfully there is an engaged public that watches our now televised board meetings and is not bashful in expressing opinions.

Will we agree on everything? Probably not. But we should all agree that options need to be explored. And not just the easy, visible ones.

(Paul Thiede, Pequot Lakes, is the Crow Wing County commissioner for District 2, which includes Pequot Lakes, Nisswa, Breezy Point, Crosslake and Jenkins.)