ST. JOSEPH — It’s official. The Berrien County Board will have one less commissioner come next year.

Having considered multiple 11-, 12- and 13-district maps at meetings over the past month, the Berrien County Apportionment Commission elected to go with a 12-district format.

The apportionment commission voted 4-1 in favor of going from 13 to 12 commissioners.

Treasurer Bret Witkowski, Prosecutor Art Cotter, Republican Party Chair Stephen Smith and Democratic Party Chair Shirley Stansberry voted in favor, while Clerk Louise Stine was the lone no vote, preferring an 11-member board.

The new format will take effect January 2013.

Counties in Michigan must form an apportionment commission after every decennial U.S. Census to remap the county. Berrien County’s population decreased more than 5,000.