County budget discussion centers on staffing, court funding and a prosecutor's plea for wages and grants

Kalamazoo County administrators presented an updated FY2026 budget recommendation Sept. 16 that keeps most elements from an earlier draft but adds staffing capacity, boosts a court budget request and includes a small gun‑violence allocation tied to the county’s Blueprint for Peace.

Administrator Catlett told commissioners the revised recommendation increases marijuana tax revenue projections and property tax estimates slightly, freeing funds to add 15 positions countywide, increase the circuit court operating request by about $103,400 and include $90,000 aligned to interventions identified in the Blueprint for Peace. Catlett said position descriptions and job description questionnaires (JDQs) are at varying stages; about seven positions already have JDQs on file and could be posted as soon as Oct. 21, while others will require further review or collective‑bargaining…