County staff says proposed head-count reductions and revenue adjustments produce an adoptable budget; commissioners warned not to "rest" on cuts
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Summary
Controller's preliminary modeling — which removes Delta Township contract revenue and models previously announced personnel reductions — shows revenues exceeding expenses and an estimated projected unassigned fund balance of about $8.7 million. Staff cautioned commissioners that pay and staffing pressures remain and that the model is provisional.
Controller's office presented a preliminary budget model based on cuts the board discussed at its May 30 budget meeting and the removal of Delta Township contract revenue from the county-wide projection.
The controller told commissioners that applying the personnel reductions discussed previously (approximately $3.6 million in head-count reductions), reducing outside-agency contributions and removing the Delta Township revenue stream produced a model in which revenues exceed expenses and the projected unassigned fund balance stabilizes near $8.7 million. The controller cautioned the board that the model is a work product and that it does not include all factors such as pension-contribution scenarios or possible negotiated compensation adjustments.
Staff said the next steps are department-level presentations on June 27 and additional contract work with Delta Township legal counsel before finalizing numbers. The controller said pay increases remain on the table: staff will present pay proposals in the next packet, and the board would need to act specifically to remove any pay increase proposals.
Commissioners voiced differing views: some emphasized revisiting earlier reductions or making additional targeted changes; others urged caution and asked staff to return with clearer impacts on core services before reversing prior reductions.
Public commenters raised concerns about specific drain-assessment bills and called for the drain commissioner to address constituent concerns at a future board meeting.