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Finance committee: treasurer reports rising tax delinquencies; committee refers eight bids to departments
Summary
Berrien County finance committee members heard from Treasurer Shelley White about higher property tax burdens and payment-plan outreach; the committee also reviewed large drain bills and referred eight bids to building & grounds and the road department for specification checks and award.
Shelley White, Berrien County treasurer, told the county finance committee that outreach clinics continue and that many residents are behind on property taxes as bills and household costs rise. White reported the meeting comments that tax-related figures rose from 13.5 percent (reference to 2023) to 15.8 percent for 2024 in the numbers she discussed with residents, and she described callers choosing between utilities and tax payments. The treasurer said she meets residents on a rotating schedule to explain payment plans and homestead qualifications that could reduce tax bills for eligible taxpayers.
The finance committee also heard from Drain Commissioner McManus about large drain-related bills on the accounts-payable list; committee members said they want fuller explanations of those large invoices and indicated additional such charges are expected.
Committee action: The finance committee received eight bids and moved to refer two bids to building and grounds and six bids to the road department for specification review and award to the lowest responsive bidder where appropriate. The motion to refer the bids was made by Commissioner John Hinkleman and supported by Commissioner Reontae Bell; committee members instructed departments to return to committee if a lowest bid does not meet specifications.
Other committee matters reported to the full board included an approved pension service buy-in for a sheriff's office employee (to account for military service) and approval of an advanced-step hire request from the road department for an engineering technician. The committee flagged an upcoming, more extensive IT policy review that will be routed to corporate counsel before coming to the full board.
