COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Branch County Administrator Bud Norman told County Commissioners during their work session on Thursday that there is still an $800,000 deficit in the proposed 2018 General Fund Budget.
It was the fourth draft of the budget presented to Commissioners.
The first draft in September showed a $4.3 million deficit.
Norman presented five options to balance the budget. Commissioners favored a plan which would include a Stabilization Fund.
It would basically encourage departments to maintain their 2017 budgets and address 2018 critical needs throughout the year with a Stabilization Fund instead of Contingencies and Capital Outlays.
Norman plans to move forward with that option.
Of the 37 departments, Norman said 17 had decreased their budgets while 20 had requested budget increases.
Meanwhile, Commissioners voted to bring forward to next Tuesdays meeting a request from Norman to give a 2% wage increase to non-union and non-union management employees for 2018.
