Alpena County commissioners approve senior tax-fee waiver, pool budget revision and multiple carryovers

Alpena County commissioners on Jan. 15 approved a package of routine and time-sensitive fiscal items, including a resolution to waive some collection fees for qualified senior taxpayers, a revised budget for the Plaza Pool after termination of a management contract, and multiple budget carryovers related to airport overtime, ambulance radio purchases and dispatch-system implementation.

The actions were taken during the Alpena County Finance, Ways and Means Committee meeting at the county courthouse. Commissioners voted unanimously on the major measures reported in the meeting record.

Why it matters: The measures free up existing budget authority to pay invoices and complete multi-year projects (radio purchases and dispatch upgrades), adjust a local recreational budget after a vendor change, and temporarily reduce penalties for certain taxpayers ahead of the Feb. 15 homestead/property tax credit deadline.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to pay county bills: Motion by Commissioner LaHaye, second by Commissioner Ludlow. Roll-call vote: Commissioner LaHaye — yes; Commissioner Ludlow — yes; Commissioner Bray — yes; Commissioner Fornier — yes; Commissioner Britton — yes; Commissioner Kozlowski — yes. Outcome: approved. - Receive and file treasurer—s December report: Motion by Commissioner Ludlow, second by Commissioner Fornier. Outcome: approved. - Resolution 2502, waiver of collection fees and interest for qualified seniors and certain disabled or veteran taxpayers who filed homestead/property tax credit before Feb. 15, 2025: Motion by Commissioner LaHaye, second by Commissioner Bray. Outcome: approved. - Revised Plaza Pool 2025 budget (injection/revision after termination of Synchronization LLC contract; conservative revenue assumptions, donations line set to zero):…