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Local News

Barry County Commissioners see proposed 2017 budget

The Great Recession officially started in December 2007 and ended in June 2009, but MIchigan and Barry County were still in a sharp decline in economic activity in 2010.

That’s when the county engaged the Michigan State University Extension, State and Local Government Program, to conduct a financial analysis and forecast future revenues centered on property taxes, County Administrator Michael Brown said.

 

Brown gave commissioners a copy of the proposed 2017 budget with projections for 2018-2019 Tuesday, saying the MSUE report, issued in January, 2011 and updated in 2014, has been used to prepare annual budgets every year since then.

 

He credits the MSUE financial analysis and forecasting for the county being able to maintain spending levels at or below annual revenue amounts and not having to resort to using the general fund to balance budgets during the down turn.

 

“We have worked hard to budget revenues at realistic levels, not underestimating them but also not falling (into the) trap of overestimating them to avoid having to make difficult choices about reducing services, if required,” Brown said.

 

No cuts in staffing will be made in 2017, but no increases, either, with expenses mostly held at 2016 levels, he said. The budget is dedicated largely to the continuation of current levels of county services.

 

Brown explained the high points in the 29-page document and answered questions from commissioners. He encouraged those with specific questions to talk to him or deputy Administer Luella Dennison, who he said had more expertise than he in some areas in the budget. //

At this point in the budget development, which began in May, Brown has received proposed budgets from department heads and made his recommendations in the proposed budget.

 

The next steps are to set a date for any appeals from department heads, hold budget workshops and adjust revenue and expenditure projections, if needed. In September, Brown presents the final budget recommendation to the commission and sets the date for a required public hearing before the budget is approved in October.

 

In other business, at the Aug. 16 committee of the whole meeting, commissioners recommended approval for a request for Digital Ally DVM- 800 in-car cameras for three new Tahoes purchased by the Barry County Sheriff’s Office.

Undersheriff Matt Houchlei said the new camera models match the make and models of the cameras in use in other sheriff's office vehicles and the computer system at the office.

The $11,803.29 cost will come from the vehicle fund. When two older model cameras are turned in, the county will get rebates of $500 for each to go into the vehicle fund, Houchlei said. The cameras have a five year warranty.

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