COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – As work on Branch County’s proposed 2019 budget continues, Sheriff John Pollack has requested four additional road patrol deputies for his department.
Branch County Administrator Bud Norman told the Board of Commissioners during their Thursday work session that there were other requests in the proposed Sheriff’s budget that covered weapons, radars and vehicles.
He pointed out the Sheriff’s Department has made requests for four to six additional staff members over the last five years with an average increase of one per year over that time.
The number of road patrol deputies has been a hot button item in Branch County in recent years. Commissioners Terri Norris, Leonard Kolcz and Ted Gordon all ran for office in 2016 promising to hire additional deputies. A corrections officer position was transferred to road patrol in 2017.
The department became shorthanded in August with the retirements of two deputies and another deputy being on sick leave. Two newly hired deputies had to go through training and they were not going to be ready for road patrol duties until around the first of November. That left the department with only five deputies from 6:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. on weekdays. Michigan State Police troopers have had to cover Branch County roads on weekends during the last couple of months.
As far as the overall proposed 2019 budget is concerned, Norman said the second draft showed a shortfall of $2.3 million.
Norman said the health insurance costs have not been received yet but there will be an increase.
The first draft of the 2019 Special Funds showed that all but 11 have been balanced.
Final action on the 2019 county budget is scheduled to take place in December.
