County staff says proposed head-count reductions and revenue adjustments produce an adoptable budget; commissioners warned not to "rest" on cuts

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.