Proposed Isabella County budget available Wednesday after final review by board of commissioners

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The proposed Isabella County 2011 fiscal year budget is online today for review by citizens.

The budget went through its final review at Tuesday’s board of commissioners work session. The board also announced a public budget hearing at 7:05 p.m next Tuesday, Sept. 28 at the Isabella County Building for county residents to voice their concerns.

“We’ll have a public hearing for any final input,” said Chairman David Ling. “It will be followed by a public vote to approve the budget.”

The county’s expenses are not covered by their revenues. A combination of money from the fund balance, delinquent tax fund and the county’s contingency may cover the discrepancy.

A balanced budget must be adopted by Oct. 1.

The budget can be accessed through the county’s website, www.isabellacounty.org. Physical copies of the budget are available in room 220 of the Isabella County Building, 200 N. Main St.

Requests for allocations of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe’s 2 percent fund were finalized at the work session. The county, along with other governmental agencies, receives 2 percent of all casino and resort profits.

Commissioners ranked potential programs based on their collective priorities. The group eliminated the Special Community Event Support Package and the Groundwater Protection Program from consideration.

Remaining programs will be forwarded to the tribe, but will not necessarily receive funding based on the board’s recommendations. Some of the programs are sheriff vehicles, shires and adult drug treatment court.

The tribe will review the requests of public school systems, CMU and the city of Mount Pleasant, among others.

“They have their own committee at the Tribal Council,” said Commissioner Roger Trudell. “They decide what they want to fund.”

Other business

The Bay Area Narcotics Enforcement Team will lose one-third of a full-time position, after the board decided to not put any general fund money toward the remaining position, said County Administrator Tim Dolehanty.

Dolehanty said it will save the county approximately $30,000 and BAYANET can supplement the remaining one-third of a position if they wish. The money will not necessary go to another program.

“We still have an issue where our expenses are more than our revenues,” Dolehanty said.

The board also renewed their contract with ACS Government Services, Inc. to provide hardware and software support for the next five years, starting Oct. 1, 2010.

If the county had looked elsewhere, the cost of running both systems simultaneously and re-training employees was estimated at $175,000.

“This system is the nerve system of the county,” Dolehanty said.