08/14/2019- Menominee County Commissioners got their first look at the 2019-2020 budget as proposed by County Administrator Jason Carviou Tuesday night. The $8.9 million dollar budget represents a 4 percent increase over this year’s budget. Revenue from property taxes will rise by 2.5 percent from the increase in taxable values in the county. Among Carviou’s recommendations are eliminating the Three-Way Road Program, saving $67,000 dollars and reducing the MSU Extension Contract to its base assessment, which could result in the 4-H director position being reduced to part-time. Both proposals were questioned by audience members at the committee of the whole meeting. Carviou is also proposing the County create a Technology services department and create a new IT position that may be shared with the City of Menominee. The County currently contracts with UES of Marinette for IT services. Carviou warned the Commissioners of the structural deficit that remains in the budget.
As stands, $143,000 would be needed out of the General Fund Balance to balance the budget. That figure is significantly less than the $900,000 taken from the fund balance in this year’s budget, and the general fund balance is a healthy $3.2 million dollars. However, Carviou says the county will need to address the problem of expenses exceeding revenues.
Next Tuesday the Finance Committee will take a look at the budget before it comes back to the full county board for further discussion, a public hearing, and final approval. The new budget takes effect October 1st.