Several Barry County departments Tuesday appealed their budget appropriations in the 2018 budget proposed by County Administrator Michael Brown (see related story).

The ability to appeal is one of several steps in the budget process, including public hearings, that lead up to final approval in October.

 

A request by Charlton Park Director Dan Patton for one-time funding for sewer pumps and roof repairs at the park was delayed, but commissioners were willing to take roof replacement bids, individually and all at one time, to consider, indicating they would use funding from a county account.

 

That prompted Commission Chairman Ben Geiger to say that Charlton Park is funded by millage, and if the county approved the request for money for operating the park, it would be a change in county policy. “It is really changing the relationship between the commission and Charlton Park.”

 

Some commissioners said millage or building and grounds, capital improvement or general fund, it was all taxpayer money and they couldn’t let the park fall into disrepair or lose any of its priceless collection to leaky roofs.

 

With Parks & Recreation also seeking an increase, Geiger suggested looking into consolidating the two boards into one group for efficiencies and the benefits of joint assets.

 

If the Parks & Rec has a five-year recreation plan, it could be used by Charlton Park to apply for different grants; if Charlton Park has a grant writer, they could write grant requests for Parks & Rec projects were given as examples.

 

“Charlton Park has historically been funded by millage; because of what the voters did and did not do, this board is going to be responsible for these buildings…if we are going down that road and invest general fund money into Charlton Park and Parks & Rec, we need to do it in a coordinated way,” Geiger said.

 

“As we invest into our Parks & Rec department, or two departments, or however, we do need to look at efficiencies of having one department…that can oversee everyone,” Commissioner Heather Wing said.

 

When discussion brought different opinions on how long it would take to meld the two boards into one, Geiger said he will put the topic for discussion on a future committee of the whole agenda.

“They existed 30-40 years by being under one, it’s just been ten years they’ve been separate,” Commissioner Dan Parker said.