Dickinson County staff: proposed budget would lower mill levy about 6.75%; Aug. 21 hearing penciled in
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Summary
County administration presented a draft 2026 budget that currently projects a 6.75% mill levy decrease and identified key items (equipment replacements, sewer district funding, an extra payroll) ahead of an Aug. 21 public hearing date; commissioners agreed to continue review before final publication.
County Administrator Janelle Dockendorf told the Dickinson County Board of Commissioners on July 24 that staff have revised budget estimates for 2026 and are tentatively planning a public budget hearing for Aug. 21, with publication of the hearing notice expected about Aug. 11 if the board approves the schedule.
Janelle said updates to departmental submissions and use of carryover funds reduced the county’s preliminary mill levy by roughly 6.75 (a 3.634 mill reduction in total). She said current estimates include an approximate $516,000 increase in projected property tax revenue and that staff identified several items still planned for 2026: one pickup (Chevy Silverado or similar), one utility truck and a placeholder estimate of $350,000 for an excavator. Janelle said the special equipment fund balance is about $1,400,000 and that staff are soliciting vendor estimates for large purchases.
Staff noted a calendar effect that increases payroll counts in 2026: because of the way pay periods fall, the county will have an additional payroll in 2026 (a 27th payroll) and that amount is included in current figures. Janelle said the county also reviewed highway equipment funding and enterprise fleet options and will continue vendor conversations before finalizing equipment decisions.
Janelle explained sewer districts are handled differently from general county property tax funding: the Tallmadge and Detroit sewer districts are financed by user fees or special assessments, not by the county’s general property tax levy, and the county’s administration collects user payments for the Detroit sewer district and applies them to bond obligations.
Commissioners said they were comfortable with the level of detail and progress. Commissioner comments noted the staff effort to tighten the budget and suggested final review with commissioner Lynn Peterson (absent) next week; commissioners provisionally approved the schedule to plan for an Aug. 21 hearing but agreed to finalize after one more review. No formal vote to adopt the budget was taken at this meeting.