ST. JOSEPH — Berrien County once again has crafted a balanced budget — but not without a few staff reductions.
The proposed $51.2 million general fund budget is a 0.41 percent increase from the 2011 budget.
The general fund is the primary operating fund for the county, accounting for services like the sheriff’s department, the jail, courts, clerk, treasurer and animal control.
Doug James, the financial services director for Berrien County, presented the budget Thursday to the board of commissioners, who are expected to vote on its approval next week.
The budget calls for a few budget cuts, including the elimination of five county employees and four vacant positions. The health department cut three employees, while the register of deeds and Michigan State University Extension each had one full-time employee staff reduction.
James pointed out that the number of full-time employees has gone from 744.2 in 2007 to the 668.5 budgeted for 2012, in order to reduce costs in the tough economy. Last year the county cut 13 employees.
A “big driver” of the county revenue increase is related to county taxes, James said.
“Taxable values (of property) have gone up slowly over the course of time,” he said.
After a 1.4 percent jump in taxable values between 2010 and 2011, James is projecting a 1.1 percent increase in 2012. The projected taxable value of property in the county for 2012 is $7.06 billion.
This relates to an increase in tax revenue of $832,000.
That’s good news, considering the county has budgeted for a significant decrease in revenue sharing funds from the state. Revenue sharing in 2011 was $3.6 million, while James expects $2.8 million in 2012.
The county was able to balance the budget while maintaining its $14.9 million fund balance or 29.1 percent of the year’s expenditures.
Board policy mandates maintaining a fund balance between 20 and 40 percent.