Special fund budget gets inspection, slight increase introduced for 2012
Published 6:10 pm Friday, November 11, 2011
ST. JOSEPH — Berrien County commissioners have been presented with the proposed 2012 special fund budget of $63.23 million, slightly above last year’s ledger of $62.64 million.
The special fund budget accounts for money marked for particular purposes, such as grants supporting law enforcement and the senior citizen center.
Financial Services Director Doug James presented the budget Thursday to commissioners, who will vote on it next week.
The board approved the general fund budget of $51.19 million last month.
The special fund budget calls for $53.9 million in revenue, while dipping into the fund balance in the amount of $8.7 million.
The public safety millage, which supports the sheriff department’s Narcotics Unit, Drug Court and the prosecutor, has been projected to generate $2.42 million in 2012, a slight increase from $2.4 million in 2011.
The senior center millage will provide funding of $2.08 million in spending in 2012, up from $2.06 million in 2011.
The 911 millage will generate funds for $3.06 million of expenditures next year, a decrease from this year’s $3.42 million.
The budget calls for several capital projects in 2012 but James said they are subject to change.
Some of the projects include $1.9 million for work on the new animal control building, $250,000 in campus infrastructure, $125,000 for a new courthouse parking lot and $400,000 for payroll/human resources software.