7/14/2026 - Leelanau County | Budget Work Session Minutes

Summary

The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners held a Budget Work Session on July 14, 2026, to discuss the 2027 budget priorities and planning timeline. The meeting included a detailed discussion on various budget considerations and the potential involvement of departments in the budget process. Key decisions focused on the need for public input and how to structure future meetings to achieve an October budget approval.

Public Comments

No public comments were recorded during the allotted time for agenda-specific remarks, and there were no written comments provided for review.

Parks and Recreation Matters

Commissioner Bunek inquired about recommendations from the Parks and Recreation department concerning upcoming projects. Interim Administrator Lauren Cypher confirmed that this would be included in the discussions as part of the budget process.

Infrastructure Projects

During the meeting, Commissioner Bunek raised the issue of ensuring that the towers would be included in the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Cypher acknowledged that discussions regarding the CIP would take place and emphasized the importance of individual departments submitting their requests. Commissioner Campbell suggested the need for more thorough Board discussions on the use of the CIP.

Other Business

Other agenda items included scheduling future budget work sessions, with Commissioner Wessell advocating for each department to present their proposed budgets. Potential sessions were planned to encourage wider public engagement. Additionally, discussions included the community mental health budget and future input from the Benzie Leelanau Health Department.

Financial Summary

No financial data, budgets, expenditures, or funding requests were discussed during this meeting.

Action Items

- **Set Future Meetings**: Interim Administrator Cypher to propose a future schedule for budget work sessions, starting on August 21, 2026, and aimed at finalizing the budget by October. - **Department Presentations**: Each department is encouraged to prepare to present their proposed budgets in the upcoming work sessions. - **Public Engagement**: Consideration to enhance public input during budget discussions and possibly extend public comments if interest exceeds normal limits. - **CIP Discussions**: Reiterate the importance of individual department submissions for the CIP and ensure budget alignment related to infrastructure projects. - **Health Department Input**: Request for the Benzie Leelanau Health Department to present their budget during the work sessions.