Summary
The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners held a budget work session on October 14, 2025, where key discussions focused on budget recommendations, health insurance updates, changes in staffing for the Sheriff's Office, and potential vehicle leasing options. Significant outcomes included recommendations for the 2026 budget based on anticipated position vacancies and the potential leasing of police vehicles, which could result in notable savings.Public Comments
Public comment was provided by Sheriff Michael Borkovich and Kathy Dawkins, although the specific concerns or topics discussed were not detailed in the minutes.Health Insurance
Administrator Dyer and HR Manager Jennifer Kain discussed the current status of health insurance renewal paperwork from Blue Cross and Blue Shield, which was not ready for review in this session. They indicated that the renewal is set to begin on February 1st and answered commissioner questions regarding employees' feedback on benefits.Action Items: Discussion & Recommendations
The Administrator recommended changes to the budget concerning the Sheriff's Office positions. The key decisions made include eliminating the TNT budget and reallocating those funds to create two part-time positions in the Road Patrol division, resulting in a reduction in overall law enforcement expenses by approximately $80,000 to $120,000 for 2026. The Board expressed consensus on these items for budget preparation.Additionally, discussions were held about using Managed Vehicle Leasing through Enterprise as an alternative to purchasing vehicles for the Sheriff's Office, with potential savings of about $260,000. The Board expressed a need to explore and possibly seek bids for other leasing options before finalizing a contract.
Other Business
The meeting included discussions about various budget allocations and adjustments for different departments, including: - Medical Examiner and Soil Conservation budgets rolling over from 2025 - Increased Veterans’ Burial cost per event - Adjustments to the Early Childhood budget concerning United We Smile - Parks and Recreation allocations pending DNR grant decisionsThe Board also tabled a request for an increase in Corrections Overtime to the next meeting for further discussion.
Action Items
1. Administrator Dyer to prepare the 2026 budget based on the agreed recommendations regarding the Sheriff's positions. 2. Explore the Managed Vehicle Leasing option and seek RFPs for comparison to bring back to the Board. 3. Finance Director Hartesvelt to verify and adjust the Budget allocation for the Health Department as needed. 4. Schedule the next budget work session for October 21, 2025.The Board aims to have the final budget for public review by the end of the month, ensuring a minimum of 10 days for review before the final approval in November.