ITHACA — Gratiot County commissioners adopted the county’s budget for fiscal year 2027 on Sept. 15 by a 5-0 roll-call vote, after a public hearing that the minutes show ran from 4:33 to 4:34 p.m. The fiscal year begins Oct. 1.
Resolution 26-457 authorizes a total county levy of 8.3922 mills: 5.5206 for general operations; 0.6000 for Central Dispatch; 0.5492 for senior citizens services; 0.4994 for the library; 0.4486 for safety; 0.4250 for agriculture and economic development; and 0.3494 for parks and recreation.
The resolution adopts the administrator’s recommended budget “by reference” and does not itself state total revenues or spending. The general-fund figures presented to the board were reported here Sept. 18. At the Sept. 1 meeting, Administrator Tim Dolehanty told commissioners the budget “is using Fund Balance, but that is being used for Capital Improvements that are one time costs,” according to those minutes.
A sheet of late adjustments filed with the meeting shows $100,000 and $182,684 added to general-fund transfers for child welfare and the Child Care Fund. Before the vote, department heads were invited to make final requests. The Animal Control pay request heard that night was covered in our Sept. 18 report; the minutes record no separate vote on it.
Prosecutor’s office. The board voted 5-0 to let the prosecutor’s office hire an assistant prosecutor on Oct. 1. Minutes say the office found a candidate with five years’ experience and that hiring assistant prosecutors “is very difficult.”
In a June 29 e-mail filed with the meeting, Prosecutor Laura Bever asked the county to review the elected prosecutor’s salary, writing that the average among 20 comparison counties is about $16,000 higher. She wrote that a change would have little effect on her because she will leave to “take the District Court bench on January 1, 2027.” The minutes say she asked to work with the administrator on a proposal.
Elected officials’ pay. Resolution 26-458 gives non-judicial countywide officials a 3% raise, the same increase recommended for non-union employees. Salaries for fiscal 2027: prosecuting attorney, $125,811; sheriff, $105,474; chief assistant prosecuting attorney, $104,636; clerk, $94,569; undersheriff, $94,173; drain commissioner, $75,026; treasurer, $73,050; register of deeds, $72,423; and $59,384 each for the chief deputies to the clerk, drain commissioner, register of deeds and treasurer.
Splash pad lease. Commissioners approved a 20-year lease with the City of Alma, “at an annual cost not to exceed one dollar,” for the site of a county splash pad at Wright Park beginning Oct. 1. The resolution says the board voted July 21 to buy the equipment on the recommendation of the Parks and Recreation Commission.
Also approved 5-0: the 2027 limit on the county’s contribution to employee medical benefits and membership in the National Association of Counties.