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Kalkaska commissioners decline proposed pay increase for Kaliseum director after divided votes
Summary
After hours of debate and warnings from the county accountant about rising deficits, commissioners failed multiple motions to raise Kaliseum Director John Starr's salary; the closest effort (to $55,600) lost 4-3 and a tabling motion for a special meeting also failed.
The Kalkaska County Board of Commissioners debated and ultimately rejected several proposals to raise Kaliseum Director John Starr's pay during a June 24 special meeting.
Commissioner Jeff Sieting moved multiple times to increase Starr's salary, first proposing $59,525 and later amending to $55,600. The final vote on the $55,600 proposal failed 4-3 (Sieting, Comai and Matley voting yea; Baldwin, Persons, Bicum and Fisher voting nay). A separate motion by Commissioner Robert Baldwin to table the matter to a special meeting on July 11, 2025 failed on roll call 1-6.
Supporters argued Starr is underpaid compared with regional rink managers and would be difficult to replace. Commissioner Scott Matley said comparable managers earn substantially more and noted Cadillac's offer of $66,000 to Starr. Opponents emphasized county fiscal constraints and the need to show the State the Kaliseum can meet the requirements of the county's Deficit Elimination Plan.
John Starr told the board that "revenue has increased annually since covid and is up from 2016/17 where revenue was in the high $260Ks to what he thinks this year will be over $400,000." Commissioners nevertheless pressed for a clearer plan for how any raise would be funded and how the Kaliseum would be driven toward self-support.
The meeting ended without a salary increase; commissioners agreed to continue discussing budget and operational options at future meetings.
