The 2017 budget calendar, which sets a dozen dates for specific parts of the county's budget to be done up to Oct 25, when the commission is expected to approve the budget, was recommended for approval by the Barry County Commissioner's committee of the whole Tuesday.
The months-long project starts with approval of the calendar on May 10 by the full board. Most of the month of June is taken up by the administrator’s office preparing and giving budget packets to department heads with cost estimates and any help needed to complete documents.
Department heads submit their budgets to Administrator Michael Brown by June 27. In July, Brown develops the budget recommendation which is given to department heads and the committee of the whole for review on July 29. Budget workshops, budget hearings and appeals from department heads are held in August.
In September Brown finalizes the budget and commissioners make millage recommendations and budget resolutions. A public hearing on the budget is advertised in September, and after the public hearing is held Oct. 25, the board approves the 2017 budget.
In other business May 3, the commissioners recommended approval of:
* the 2016 Taxable Value Report L-40046, to be submitted to the State Tax Commission before the fourth week in May. Equalization Director Tim Vandermark said the taxable value “did not go up much,” just .043 percent to $2,011,600,688 (correction from an earlier incorrect figure).
* hiring two part-time employees for a total of 30 hours a week at the Barry County Animal Shelter. With increased use of home tethers instead of jail for some low level offenders, jail inmate help at the shelter has become “sporadic,” Director Billie Jo Hartwell said. Each employee would be half time, provide four hours of coverage seven days a week and paid $9 an hour. The funding would come from the shelter’s health and services fund.
And, Colette Scrimger, health officer at the Barry Eaton District Health Department, gave commissioners copies of the department’s annual report, saying she can come to another meeting to answers any questions or they can call or e-mail her directly.
Jean Gallup
