Mackinac County committee recommends salary increases, trims MEA funding amid budget shortfall

Mackinac County commissioners on Dec. 5 reviewed proposed 2026 budget changes and recommended specific pay adjustments for elected officials and county staff as they wrestled with revenue shortfalls and rising costs.

Commissioners John Kling and Daryl Schroeder, serving on the Budget Committee, presented recommended salary levels for several elected and appointed positions based on the county's most recent wage study. The committee recommended raising the sheriff's pay to $93,600, the county clerk to $75,778, the register of deeds to $72,607, the treasurer to $72,500 and the prosecutor to $110,400; it also recommended Assistant Prosecutor $75,307 and Under Sheriff $82,106.

The recommendations follow requests submitted by elected officials earlier in the process: the sheriff requested $93,000; the clerk sought $72,000–$75,000; the register of deeds requested an additional $3,000; the treasurer requested $12,000 more; and the prosecutor requested $129,000.

Why it matters: commissioners said taxable values have not kept pace with inflation, leaving recurring budget gaps. Commissioner John Kling said the county should repeat the wage study in 2029 to stay current and consider revenue options such as a millage or spending cuts. Kling also proposed creating a building maintenance emergency fund with a minimum balance of $500,000 and noted delinquent-tax funds could be used short-term to offset shortages.

Union and benefits: Kling reported a tentative agreement with the county's union proposing a 4% wage increase in 2026 and 3% in 2027; non-union court employees would receive the same increases under the current proposal. Commissioners also discussed simplifying step increases in the wage scale to better align with the wage study.

Cost offsets and program budgets: the Health Care Committee identified a new health-insurance plan the board said will save the county a substantial amount in 2026. County officials credited the new Equalization Director with identifying approximately $130,000 in additional revenue by leveraging GIS parcel data. The county reduced its MSU Extension allocation to $79,721 (from $81,000) and said it will pursue different office space for extension services. The board voted to eliminate its 2026 appropriation for the Mackinac Economic Alliance, citing no project reports or communications from the organization during 2025.

Other items and community impacts: the Veterans Committee recommended increasing the Veterans Service Officer salary to $49,500 and hiring an assistant. Commissioners discussed a Brownfield Authority developer declining a potential housing site because of rocky soil found in testing; Schroeder said the authority is working on a letter of intent for a $1.5 million grant. Commissioner Judy St. Louis-Scott said CLMCAA received a grant to build a new garage.

Public comment and next steps: District Court Administrator Christine Bawol asked whether non-union employees must submit a letter to request wage increases; Commissioner Kling said, "a letter would be appropriate." Sheriff Ed Wilk and Register of Deeds Mary Jo Savard publicly thanked the Budget Committee for its work. Treasurer Tina Massey said she appreciated the committee's research but reiterated that she prefers wage increases be tied to taxable values.

No final budget adoption occurred at the Dec. 5 meeting; the committee's recommendations will inform later budget work by the board and county staff. The board adjourned at 12:43 p.m.