Summary
The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners held a Budget Work Session on October 7, 2025, focused on review and discussion of proposed budgets for various departments. Key presentations were made by representatives from the Benzie Leelanau District Health Department and the Clerk's Office, with discussions surrounding budgets and potential staffing needs. Several handouts and financial documents were reviewed, and the board made decisions regarding the prioritization of items for the upcoming budget cycle.Public Comments
Mary Tonneberger spoke during the public comment period, expressing her concerns on agenda-specific matters; however, no specific concerns or responses are detailed in the minutes. Bill Wiesner also spoke during the later public comment segment, though the content of his remarks is not recorded.Action Items
1. **Budget Approvals**: The Board approved the agenda without additional comments. 2. **Early Childhood Program Presentation**: Further review and input by the Board for the proposed budget are necessary. 3. **Clerk’s Office Budget Discussion**: Further discussion on re-classifications for union positions is warranted; Clerk Crocker expressed a desire to be included in these discussions. 4. **Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)**: Each commissioner was tasked with ranking and itemizing the CIP for the next budget work session scheduled for October 14, 2025. 5. **Revenue Projections**: Ongoing discussions regarding the hiring freeze and positions within the proposed budget were noted.Other Business
The meeting included discussions on the election budget and the hiring of additional part-time staff during election periods. It was noted that the election budget changes occur based on the election cycle, and there were clarifications regarding overtime needs due to staffing changes.Financial Summary
- Clerk Crocker reported that the Clerk’s Office budget is over $700,000.00, with additional responsibilities bringing the total budget overseen to over a million dollars. - The proposed election budget for 2026 includes a request for a part-time position to assist during the election year. - The Veteran's Burial benefit amount was mentioned as $300.00, with the potential for increase depending on Board decisions.This budget work session primarily focused on departmental budget presentations, clarifying line items, and addressing inquiries about staff workload and elections processes.