Controller outlines FY2027 preliminary budget; board told staff used $750,000 in fund balance to balance general fund

County controller Brenda presented the Montcalm County preliminary FY2027 budget at the July 13 meeting, telling commissioners she used $750,000 in fund balance to balance the general fund and that the budget showed an apparent surplus of $44,006.89 at this stage of preparation.

Brenda walked commissioners through supporting documents in the packet, including prior-year approvals, a summary of marijuana revenue spending to date, and a fees schedule that now includes sheriff’s department fees. She said relatively few funds rely on use of fund balance and identified one example as the sheriff’s millage fund. She also provided fund-balance schedules to show where the county stands after June adjustments and said the board’s first budget work session is set for Friday at 1 p.m.

Commissioners used the opportunity to discuss external revenue risks. One commissioner cited pending legislative discussion about property tax rollback or state ballot changes and noted the county receives nearly $10 million in property-tax revenue out of an estimated $17–18 million general-fund total; commissioners said a rollback or a reduction in revenue sharing would be a significant hit to county finances. Staff cautioned that revenue-sharing projections in the newsletter read as flat at present but acknowledged uncertainty.

Brenda asked how the board preferred to proceed with the Friday work session — whether to invite specific departments or let commissioners review materials in advance and raise questions at future sessions. The board did not set special guests for the upcoming work session at the July 13 meeting.