Macomb County committee backs legal-contracts and sheriff budget fixes; items sent to full board

The Macomb County Records and Public Safety Committee on a unanimous vote recommended several routine contracts and budget amendments to the full county board, including a legal-research contract for the public defender, a Harrison Township-funded deputy and vehicle, and corrections to sheriff staffing allocations.

Erin Friars of the public defender’s office explained the West Publishing contract under consideration is an approximately five-year arrangement with annual costs “under $20,000,” totaling about $83,408.31. “We are a 100% grant funded department,” Friars said, noting she was available to answer questions. The committee voted 12 to 0 to send the contract to the full board.

The committee also recommended a Harrison Township contract to add a deputy and vehicle, which Commander Jason Abrow described as “at no cost to the county” and fully paid by Harrison Township. The packet lists the contract total as $427,996 and the requested budget amendment as $210,918 to record charges for service and increase personnel and capital outlay; the committee voted to forward the item 12 to 0.

Members spent more time on two sheriff’s office items: a requested correction of position allocation and a position-control action that together carry a $270,192 adjustment. A sheriff’s office representative identified in the meeting as Kevin told the committee two deputy positions had been shifted previously into a secondary road patrol fund when additional state grant money was available; with that grant reduced for FY2025–26, the office requests moving the two positions back to the general fund (F101) for 2026. Kevin said the secondary road patrol fund supports patrol in communities without local police and that the funding mechanism has changed over time.

Commissioners asked for clarifications about the origin and continuity of the secondary road patrol funding and whether the county could temporarily cover the cost in the general fund while reconciling budget counts. Chair Sabatini and other members said they were willing to forward the items to the full board with the expectation that staff would resolve outstanding reconciliation questions before next Thursday’s board meeting. The committee recommended both sheriff items 12 to 0.

On legal-services contracts for the prosecuting attorney, Mr. Biondo spoke on behalf of Prosecuting Attorney Lucido, describing the contracts as routine and saying hourly rates remain the same though the mix of assigned attorneys differs. The committee recommended that resolution 12 to 0. The committee also approved a separate resolution deeming prosecuting attorney positions necessary and fixing salaries under Public Act 329 of 1925 (as amended), again by unanimous recommendation.

All motions considered in the committee were recommended to the full Macomb County Board by unanimous votes. The meeting closed after a brief commissioners’ comment period and a unanimous motion to adjourn. The items will be taken up by the full board at its next meeting; staff said outstanding fiscal reconciliation questions would be addressed before that session.