COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch County Board of Commissioners told Administrator Bud Norman during their work session Thursday to keep two additional Sheriff’s Department Road Patrol deputies in the proposed 2020 county budget.
It was estimated that each new deputy would cost the county $125,000. That would include wages and benefits along with new vehicle, uniform and pension costs.
Sheriff John Pollack said the additional deputies would allow his department to expand their service hours by adding one deputy to each of the 12 hour platoons.
He pointed out his current deputies are handling 28 percent more complaints during the last three years compared to the first three years after Sheriff Department layoffs. Pollack also got good news from Lansing as supplemental budget bills have been passed by the House. The bills include Michigan State Police secondary road patrol funding which is provided to Branch and other counties around the state.
There were some fears about dipping into the county’s fund balance which is designed to fund the county for 60 days in case of a catastrophic condition in which revenues are not coming in. But the majority of Commissioners wanted to keep the two deputies in the budget. Commissioner Terri Norris did not think it would be frivolous spending of funds.
The 2020 budget is scheduled to be formally adopted by Commissioners December 19, 2019.
