BOC Ties Final Loose Ends of FY 27 Budget Prep

By DIANNE ALWARD-BIERY

Cleaver Senior Staff Writer

HARRISON – The Clare County Board of Commissioners gathered Sept. 2 for a special meeting. All commissioners were present with the exception of Jack Kleinhardt, who had been excused from attending.

After approval of the agenda and hearing no general public comment, the meeting moved quickly forward to items listed under Finance and Administration, where commissioners addressed three items which needed review for the coming fiscal year budget.

Under Airport appropriation discussion, commissioners moved to approve the budgeted airport appropriation in the proposed 2027 budget as presented.

Under New Corrections Command Unit discussion, commissioners moved to approve the proposed Corrections Command Unit effective Oct. 1 of this year, with that contract expiring Sept. 30, 2027.

The last agenda item to be addressed was Administration Credit Limit, under which commissioners moved to increase the credit limit of the Administration credit card to $6,500. All three motions were passed on unanimous votes.

Administrator Lori Phelps then informed that immediately following the meeting she would be entering the beginning and ending fund balance, which would complete the budget work. She also noted the final budget packet would be completed by the following morning, then placed in the Clare County Clerk’s office for viewing by anyone who wishes to do so.

“Then it will be available for two weeks,” she said. “Then we will have our public hearing on the 16^th [of September] when the meeting starts.”

Phelps said commissioners would then approve it [or not] at that meeting.

She also informed that she had received three bids in response to her posted Request for Proposals for IT services, and provided a summary for commissioners to review. Phelps listed all the county personnel who had reviewed or were currently reviewing the bids, adding that all those parties will be providing their recommendations. Approval of a bid will be done at the Sept. 16 meeting as well.

After the meeting adjourned, Phelps took a moment to express her appreciation to the commissioners for how they welcomed questions and discussion, and how much it meant to  be able to have that dialogue and open communication.