Newaygo County to Cover Veterans Service Officer from General Fund after state grant cut

Newaygo County staff said the state reduced planned veterans affairs grant funding to a base amount of $50,000 per county, and the county will place the county’s veterans service officer position on the general fund while treating any future grant awards as supplemental funding.

County staff told the board the state gave little advance notice about the reduction and a short window for supplemental submissions, and later extended the submission deadline to May 1 for a subsequent round. Staff said they will budget the position from the general fund “so we’re not, I don’t want an employee working in the uncertain times thinking that their job is gonna be dependent upon the state grant,” and will apply grant money as it becomes available to supplement costs.

The update did not include a formal vote by the board; staff characterized the measure as an administrative budgeting decision rather than an agenda item requiring board action. No exact dollar amount for the county’s general-fund contribution was specified in the meeting.

Why it matters: moving a grant-funded position to the general fund shifts ongoing personnel cost onto the county budget and removes the job’s direct dependency on future state funding. County staff said the change also makes reporting simpler and reduces employment uncertainty for the affected worker.

What staff said: county staff framed the change as a precaution after the state’s grant reduction and brief application windows. The staff noted they will still pursue supplementary grant funds and maintain contingency plans to use additional money if and when it is awarded. The timeline for any supplemental awards beyond the $50,000 base was not specified.

Next steps: staff said they will submit the required supplemental materials where possible and will report back to the board as grant decisions and amounts become clearer.