Dearborn County opens budget hearing, approves temporary auditor transfer and health grant; acknowledges circuit-breaker losses tied to Senate Bill 1

The Dearborn County Council opened a public hearing on the county budget and approved several budget actions including a $2,153 intra-fund transfer to hire a temporary deputy in the auditor’s office, acceptance of a $67,766.18 grant to the health department for safe-sleep certification and supplies, and acknowledgment of projected circuit-breaker revenue losses related to Senate Bill 1.

The transfer request came from the county auditor, who told the council the deputy who trained for the position will be out for four to six weeks and that a temporary part-time hire would be paid $18 per hour. The auditor said she would tighten other office expenses and requested the council approve moving $2,153 from an operating line item to fund the temporary hire. A motion to approve the transfer was made, seconded and approved by the council.

The council also voted to accept a grant of $67,766.18 intended to support safe sleep environments for expecting parents and caregivers, including CPO (crib) certification. County staff told the council there is no county match required for the grant. The motion to accept the grant was seconded and approved.

Council members spent substantial time discussing projected revenue impacts from state policy changes, repeatedly referencing Senate Bill 1. One councilor said the county’s initial reconciliation shows a loss "about a million and a half dollars" tied to Senate Bill 1, with an $808,000 reduction in property-tax revenue and an additional, preliminary $450,000 decline projected in local income tax (LIT) receipts. The speaker noted the $450,000 LIT figure was an earlier-in-the-season projection from Baker Tilly and that state estimates (DLGF projections) typically are adjusted in October.

Council members said the county expects to rely on some reserves to avoid immediate service cuts but acknowledged that drawing reserves repeatedly is not sustainable. Members discussed that some funds in the county balance are restricted or derived from the hospital transition, noting $5,000,000 held in a pension-related account until November 2030 and that a $15.8 million check received as part of a hospital transition had $2,000,000 set aside for expenses. Staff said interest earnings and investment income have declined from prior years, and that investment income projections for 2026 are lower than recent years.

The council formally acknowledged it had reviewed the circuit-breaker loss estimates (the county’s accounting of tax abatements/exemptions that reduce tax receipts). A motion to acknowledge receipt and review of the circuit-breaker report was made and approved.

Separately, the council approved stated budget amendments and adjourned the public hearing. During the meeting Adam Clark was introduced as the county’s new solid-waste director; he briefly exchanged comments about tire recycling and presence at the meeting. Council members also discussed a preliminary proposal by local townships and Bright Fire for a fire territory or a township-level tax measure; members said details were recent and that township trustees have authority over certain township budgets and that any township-level actions follow state procedures and multiple local public hearings.

Votes at a glance

- Temporary auditor transfer: Motion to transfer $2,153 to pay a temporary part‑time deputy (mover and seconder: not specified in the record). Outcome: approved. - Health department grant: Motion to accept a $67,766.18 grant for safe-sleep certification and supplies (mover and seconder: not specified). Outcome: approved; no county match required. - Circuit‑breaker acknowledgment: Motion to acknowledge review of circuit‑breaker losses presented by staff (mover and seconder: not specified). Outcome: approved. - Budget amendments: Motion to approve budget amendments and to note budget-hearing adjournment (mover and seconder: not specified). Outcome: approved.

The council chair closed the public hearing after the votes and adjourned the meeting.