MARQUETTE COUNTY -- A proposed $280,000 cut to the Marquette County Prosecutor's budget next year has a number of people speaking out. Prosecutor Gary Walker says if the budget cuts to his department pass, he may file a lawsuit against the county board.
Walker says that kind of cut would devastate his department, reducing funding during one of the busiest periods his office has ever had.
Right now, prosecutors have 617 felonies on their desks, and they say the funding cuts would force them to cut, not only staff, but also their workload. Walker says he'd have to stop prosecuting lower level misdemeanors, which has also upset city police.
"I have a finite resource; if that resource is reduced this drastically, it means I have to reduce the workload that we have," stated Walker.
"Cuts that occur to that office are of concern, and I think I can say that fairly confidently, as we are probably one of the biggest contributors to that office and may very well have a negative effect on what we do here," added Marquette City Police Chief, Mike Angeli.
Walker says he would have to cut about three positions, including at least one attorney and two clerical positions.
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