BOARD ADOPTS 2003 BUDGET
BOARD ADOPTS 2003 BUDGET
At their October 22, 2002 meeting, the Ingham County Board of Commissioners adopted the 2003 Ingham County Budget. County Commissioner Mark Grebner, Chairperson of the Board's Finance Committee, expected the budget to pass with little controversy. Commissioner Grebner noted that over the past several years, the Board has placed a high priority on expanding access to healthcare; developing effective sanctions for youth and adult offenders, and expanding recreational activities. However, with ever-present funding constraints and eyeing the possibility of reduced state funding early next year, the primary focus of the budget will be to continue county services at their current levels. "With initial budget projections calling for reductions of nearly $1.6 million, we feel fortunate to be able to recommend a budget which makes only marginal changes in county staffing and programs. Unfortunately, we also recognize that the state's severe financial difficulties will likely result in reduced funding to counties later this year or early next year. Depending on how and when that occurs, it may be necessary to implement measures such as across the board budget reductions, hiring freezes and purchase delays."
Commissioner Grebner is optimistic that Ingham County will weather the current economic slowdown without precipitating a crisis in the county government. "We are in a strong financial position, with adequate reserves, and with a history of working cooperatively to address our problems.
The $157.5 million budget is 6.5 % greater than the adopted 2002 budget. Included is a general fund budget of $68.3 million, which is 5.4 % greater than the adopted budget. The total budget includes 1,374 county positions, 1 full-time equivalent (FTE) position less than currently.
The adopted budget provides a mix of increases and decreases, including position and program reductions totaling $460,000. A total of 5 FTE positions are added in Facilities, Friend of the Court, MIS, and the Prosecutor's Office. A total of 5.75 FTE positions are eliminated, affecting the Circuit Court, Controller's Office, Cooperative Extension, Probate Court, Sheriff's Office, and Veterans Affairs.
Significant increases are included for employee and retiree health insurance, foster care, state wards, institutional placements, inmate medical expenses, and property and liability insurance. Also included are expenses associated with the first full year of operation of Hawk Island Park, and for the continuation of lifeguard services at Lake Lansing South, Hawk Island, and Burchfield parks. However, mental health services at the jail will not be expanded, even though previously authorized, and the staff of the Probate Court will be consolidated at the Veterans Memorial Courthouse. Inflationary adjustments were minimal, and in several departments, line item budgets are less than the current year's budget.
Under the adopted budget, the owner of a $100,000 residence will pay $398.06 in property taxes for county services in 2003, an increase of $9.33 or 2.4%. The total proposed county property tax levy is 7.7144 mills, a slight decrease from the current 7.7746 mills. Included in the total levy is the levy for the Capital Regional Airport Authority, which is reduced from .1657 mills to .1076 mills.
The budget does not include the impact of the .6 mill Juvenile Justice millage being considered by the voters in November. The purpose of the special millage is to provide capacity for an additional 48 placements of delinquent and troubled youth in non-secure treatment oriented facilities. It would also alleviate some of the strain on the general fund by absorbing the cost of the 24 bed Youth Center, and by opening all 24 beds at the center for youth needing secure detention. Should the millage be approved, the proposed operating millage would be reduced to 6.3512 mills, for a net increase of .5 mills. The .5 mill increase would cost the owner of a $100,000 residence $25 per year.