Summary
The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners held a Budget Work Session on September 23, 2025, chaired by Steve Yoder, with Commissioner Mark Walter absent. The Board heard 2026 budget presentations from Senior Services, Building Safety, Information Technology, and Equalization departments, and discussed the overall budget timeline, wage increases, and several capital and staffing requests. Key actions included approving the amended agenda, reaching consensus to add a 3% wage increase for Non-Union Personnel to the proposed budget, and recommending that the IT Department's second position be made full-time.
Public Comments
No public comments were made during either designated comment period.
Infrastructure Projects
Commissioner Bunek asked whether a wastewater treatment plant request and study could be included in the budget. Administrator Dyer said the project would be placed high on the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for the Board's consideration rather than added directly to the departmental budget. Finance Director Cathy Hartesvelt clarified that although Buildings & Grounds is requesting the study, the expense would fall under the Capital Building Fund, sourced from either the DTR or the General Fund. No vote was taken; the item is to be addressed further as part of CIP prioritization, expected around the October 7, 2025 meeting.
Other Business
Building Safety Director Amber Weber discussed a proposed Toyota Tacoma purchase (quoted near $50,000, up from about $36,000 roughly a year and a half prior), prompting concern from Commissioner Robbins about cost. Weber also reviewed the department's take-home vehicle trial, which commissioners agreed to extend and revisit at the December 9, 2025 Executive Session. IT Director Liana Wilson requested additional board-room screens and a shift of her assistant position from part-time to full-time; the Board later voted 5-1 (Bunek opposed; Walter absent) to recommend making that position full-time. Equalization Director Andrew Giguere discussed his office's growing role in revenue projections. Discussion also covered scheduling conflicts for October meetings due to Commissioner Allgaier's planned absence (October 19–November 5) and Commissioner Campbell's unavailability on October 21; Chief Deputy Clerk Jennifer Zywicki recommended pushing final budget adoption to the December 2025 Regular Session.
Financial Summary
Discussion included a proposed 3% wage increase for all Non-Union Personnel, which the Board reached consensus to build into the 2026 proposed budget (final approval pending). Commissioner Campbell noted $250,000 previously allocated to MERS retirement liability, questioning whether that figure should increase in future years. Vehicle cost concerns included a roughly $14,000 difference between older and new truck quotes. The IT full-time position request will be cost-allocated across departments, with exact figures to be prepared by Hartesvelt for the October 7, 2025 meeting.
Action Items
- Building Safety take-home vehicle trial to be added to the December 9, 2025 Executive Session agenda.
- Finance Director Hartesvelt to prepare updated budget figures, including 3% Non-Union wage increase and IT staffing cost analysis, for the October 7, 2025 meeting.
- Administrator Dyer to bring the IT full-time position recommendation to the full Board in October as a discussion item due to the non-unanimous vote (5-1).
- Wastewater treatment plant study to be prioritized within the CIP process.
- Commissioner Bunek requested review of the Facilities Director job description before considering additional Buildings & Grounds staffing.
- Audit bid solicitation to be issued by Administrator Dyer and Executive Assistant Lauren Cypher later in the week following the meeting.