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Eaton County projects $4.9 million budget gap; commissioners debate public‑safety millage and possible cuts
Summary
County finance staff presented revenue and expense projections showing a roughly $4.9 million shortfall under current departmental requests. Commissioners discussed a proposed 2‑mill public safety millage on the May ballot and the likely consequences—most notably elimination of county road patrol—if voters reject the measure.
Eaton County officials told the Ways & Means Committee that preliminary budget requests for 2025‑26 outpace projected revenues by about $4.9 million, and commissioners spent much of the meeting reviewing where cuts would fall if additional revenues are not secured.
Connie (staff member) framed the meeting as an information step in the budget process and warned commissioners that “the cuts are coming” while more detail is gathered. Melissa (finance director) and other staff walked commissioners through an updated multi‑year projection that showed property tax revenue slightly below earlier estimates and some one‑time improvements in interest earnings.
Key revenue details offered in the presentation included:
- Property tax projection: staff reported a revised property‑tax projection of roughly $26.6 million, down from an earlier estimate of about $27.1 million. - One‑time and…
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