Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Gogebic County adopts $9.68 million FY2026 budget, opts out of Public Act 152; residents urge retaining 4H coordinator
Summary
Gogebic County commissioners voted unanimously to adopt the FY2026 General Appropriations Act and budgets totaling $9,682,523, voted to opt out of Public Act 152, approved budget amendments, and heard public pleas to keep the 4H Coordinator position full time.
Gogebic County commissioners voted on Sept. 24 to adopt the FY2026 General Appropriations Act, the FY2026 General Fund Budget and the county's FY2026 Special Revenue Funds, approving a plan with $9,682,523 in revenues and $9,682,523 in expenditures.
The motion to adopt the budgets was made by Commissioner Lorenson and supported by Commissioner Peterson; a roll-call vote recorded seven yes votes (Wood, Lorenson, Matonich, Yon, Peterson, Cayer, Siirila) and no votes were recorded. The board also voted unanimously to opt out of the Public Act 152 health-care cost-sharing requirement.
The adoption followed a public hearing on the proposed budget during which several residents praised the county's 4H program and urged the board to keep the 4H Coordinator position at full time. The hearing record and later public comment include specific appeals from residents Marlene Saari (Ironwood) and Crystal Suzik (Ramsey) urging either amendment of the budget or restoration of the position to full time.
During regular business the board approved a set of General Fund revenue and expenditure amendments that net to $262,089.55 (revenues increased by $262,089.55 and matching expenditure increases were recorded). The amendments adjust multiple line items called out in the finance report, including increases to Clerk and Treasurer salary lines, allocations for buildings and grounds maintenance and capital outlay, and additions to sheriff department salary and medical supplies. The board voted to receive and place on file the trial balance/cash and investment reports and the general fund revenue and expenditure control report.
The meeting minutes note that several commissioners emphasized the budget vote was final when a commissioner asked later about restoring the 4H Coordinator line item; the chair and a commissioner responded that the board had already approved the FY2026 budget.
The meeting record shows the county followed required procedures for the public hearing and budget vote. The board did not adopt any change restoring the 4H Coordinator to a full-time position at this meeting; any future change would require a formal budget amendment.
