COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Branch County Administrator Frank Walsh formally presented the county’s proposed 2026 budget during the Board of Commissioners work session on Thursday morning.
The combined 2026 operating budgets total $92,455,487 with $10-point-six million going directly to other taxing jurisdictions and state government.
Walsh reported the 2026 General Fund budget will add over $345,000 to the county’s fund balance as they anticipate revenues of over $19-point-2 million and expenditures of about $18-point-8 million.
He anticipates Branch County’s fund balance will be 62-point-five percent at the end of 2026 compared to an average of 41 percent in other Michigan counties.
Walsh said the steady increase in property values will allow the County to meet their financial obligations as they expect general fund property tax revenue to exceed $10-and-a-half million.
The results of the Wage and Salary Study are included in the budget with a four percent wage increase for all non-union county employees.
The budget includes what’s called, “a significant increase” in compensation for Sheriff’s Department deputies and corrections officers. As directed earlier by the Board of Commissioners, a total of $215,000 will be drawn down from the opioid settlement to support the cost of the newly created overnight patrol.
In addition, the Board of Commissioners committed $1-point-3 million of ARPA funding to support the additional costs for overnight patrol.
There’s also additional security for the Branch County Courthouse. The General Fund includes the hiring of an additional corrections officer to provide security at the front desk which means there will be two bailiffs in the three courtrooms.
One area of concern is the Michigan marijuana industry which Walsh feels is starting to face headwinds. The County’s marijuana tax revenue is expected to slightly decrease from $975,000 to $900,000.
The proposed budget will be reviewed by Commissioners on October 23 with the required budget hearing scheduled for November 12.
Final action on the proposed spending plan on is set for November 25.
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