ESCANABA -- Delta County will not be losing one of its judgeships after all.  A proposed cost-saving bill in the Michigan House that would have eliminated the position was not voted on in a House committee.

The judgeship and others across the state would have been eliminated by attrition if the bill had passed.

The recommendation to make the cut had come from the Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court to Governor Rick Snyder. It was estimated the cuts would have saved the state $7 million over the next 22 years.

Probate Court Judge Robert Goebel said the cuts would have restricted access to justice.

"It's much like you'd want access to a doctor when you're sick," explained Judge Goebel. "You'd want to get to see that doctor in a timely fashion and get the right treatment. I think the governor wanted to show that he was making cuts across the board; that everyone had to suffer and share the sacrifice."

Goebel said Delta County's programs for juveniles are cost-effective and actually save taxpayers one million dollars a year in the county.