The Berrien County Board of Commissioners has approved a budget for the next year as the body deals with uncertainty in the pandemic. The spending plan has the county taking $10 million out of its fund balance, or savings, to be balanced. During a Thursday meeting, Commissioner Teri Freehling said such a move would not normally be made, but this are not normal times.
“We’re going to be required to be very nimble in the way that we handle ourselves in the budget for 2021, we’re going to be requiring ourselves and our staff to constantly be sharpening the pencil and be vigilant,” Freehling said.
Commissioner Jim Curran felt much the same.
“We can’t do this every year,” Curran said. “We know we’re going to be in trouble if we do.”
Curran and other commissioners saluted County Administrator Brian Dissette for getting to work on the budget days after starting his position with the county. Dissette said he worked with county department heads to postpone projects planned for next year. The county commission approved the budget with a unanimous vote during Thursday’s meeting, although Commissioner Mac Elliott was not present.
