By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org
The Kent County Board of Commissioners last week unanimously adopted Fiscal Year 2020 budget of $475 million and includes $12 million for capital improvement projects, $6 million in Ready by Five millage funding for early childhood development services, and $422,000 for the addition of five Sheriff Deputy positions to decrease response times.
The approval came at the Commission’s Nov. 21 regular meeting and it takes effect Jan. 1, 2020, the start of the county’s fiscal year. And both Kentwood and Wyoming’s representatives, Commissioner Monica Sparks (District 12) and Commissioner Harold Voorhees (District 8), praised the budget after passage.
“This is my 17th year on the county budget committee and, again, this has been fantastic working together to meet the needs (of the county) and to make sure we spend the money wisely,” Vorhees said to WKTV. “And we do it all within the restraint of a balanced budget.”
For details of Kent County ’s approved 2020 budget, visit here.
An operating millage of 4.2571 was used as part of the revenue estimating process, which is the same rate that was levied in 2019.
While most of the county’s income is flow-thorough funds — from the State of Michigan, for example — and expenditures are mandated, the approved 2020 General Fund budget for both operating and capital needs includes $187.9 million in spending, which is a 4.6 percent increase over the 2019 budget including operating expenditures of $140.2 million.
The General Fund budget supports the approximately 1,790 employees, which includes 16 new positions in the offices of the Clerk, Community Action, Friend of the Court, Health, Public Works, Sheriff and Administrator’s offices.
Other highlights of the county’s budget detailed by county officials included: $1.6 million to enhance parks and trails; $2 million allocated to support community homeless services programs; $75,805 to support a partnership with health care organizations to establish a community-wide mental health crisis system and approximately $127,000 for a Community Health Strategy position to these support health initiatives; more than $1 million for programs that identify sources of lead contamination in homes and to seek, reduction of lead poisoning in children and $500,000 to address emerging public health issues including PFAS.
“The budget insures we have continuing services for our constituents,” Sparks said to WKTV. “Our job it to make sure that we have a high quality of life for our constituents here in Kent County.”
