COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Branch County Administrator Bud Norman presented the first draft of the county’s 2020 general fund budget during last Thursday’s Board of Commissioners work session, which showed a smaller deficit than the one the county faced last year at this time.
There is about a $2.8 million deficit compared to $3.5 million when the first draft of the 2019 budget was presented.
At this point, the proposed budget which is based on departmental budget hearings has about $15.6 million in expenses and just over $12.9 million in revenues.
The Sheriff’s Department budget takes up almost a third of the county’s total budget and Sheriff John Pollack took time during the Board of ommissioners meeting Tuesday to explain why it was so expensive.
He said one area of focus was manpower. He said they will once again ask for an additional deputy in the 2020 budget. Commissioners agreed last December to revisit the deputy matter in the 2019 budget once the bonds for the new jail are sold and they saw what the financial rate is.
Commissioners seemed to indicate late last year during budget discussions they were receptive to bringing an additional deputy on board.
Pollack said equipment such as vehicles is also another expensive area. He pointed out they used to get a set budget for vehicles every year
Everything in the proposed budget is an estimate right now. The first draft is always intended to present what the departments are requesting.
