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The plan includes a $2 million in fleet and $1 million in technology savings, including the layoff of 29 troopers around the state. Two of those troopers are from the tri-county area, one at the Bad Axe Post and one at the Caro Post.

In a Michigan State Police press release, it's announced that a total of 112 employees will experience a change in their job responsibility or assignment as a result of its spending reduction plan. The press release further states another 46 employees are likely to be displaced before the Reduction In Force (RIF) process is complete.

"This really catches us at a bad time," said Michigan State Police Commander Lieutenant Doug Lautner. "They just decreased our mileage on the road patrols and now we're losing two troopers."

In 2006, MSP employees drove 35 million miles in the delivery of public safety services.

"As with anything to do with the legislature we can hope for a last minute reprieveÉbut I doubt it," he added.

Lautner said the two trooper positions being cut are low seniority.

"Between the two troopers they have about two-and-a-half years experience plus all the training we've offeredÉit's truly sad we'll have to release them from their jobs."

The effective date for the two troopers is April 8 as of now, said Lautner.

Other changes across the state include the reassignment of 14 civilian employees from their current positions into Non-general Fund vacancies throughout the department, a reduction in the number of command and sergeant positions will result in bumping, and the elimination of 41 other positions. The department has cancelled a 50-member trooper recruit school that was scheduled to begin in August.

The press release also stated in an effort to lessen the number of layoffs, the department has made numerous administrative reductions including reducing command staff and consolidation divisions.

An elimination of 15 on-site post commanders means some State Police Posts will share a commander. The Bad Axe Post is under the command of the Caro Post Commander and the Sandusky Post is now under the Lapeer Post Commander.

Finally the press release states the elimination of nine sergeant positions and 10 polygraph operator positions in the Forensic Science Division.

"It's not the end of the world and it could be a lot worse but we'll do the best we can," said Lautner.