With just two weeks to go before a year-end deadline, Grand Traverse County commissioners voted Wednesday night to approve a $37.7 million 2016 budget. But though the motion passed unanimously, the issue appears far from settled. 

“I think it’s essential tonight that we pass this budget, so we can move forward,” said Commissioner Addison "Sonny" Wheelock. “But we need to recognize that it is a document that is not perfect, and we are going to amend it on a regular basis through the next year.”

Wheelock’s sentiment was echoed by other commissioners, including Carol Crawford.

“I also fully expect that this budget will be reviewed over and over and over,” Crawford said. “This isn’t it. It’s the beginning.”

The budget, aimed at reducing the county’s $3.5 million deficit, began undergoing revisions as soon as it was crafted. Grand Traverse County Administrator Tom Menzel initially recommended 8.5 percent funding cuts across every county department. But strong resistance from departments led to a new recommendation of 4.25 percent cuts and the use of $500,000 in county cash reserves to close the gap.

“I believe [the board] got a lot of pushback from all the department heads,” says Menzel. “They all went around me, but that’s what they do here.”

Frustration over a lack of dialogue surrounding the budgeting process has been voiced by some department heads, including Sheriff Tom Bensley.

“Mr. Menzel needs to be more communicative with department heads,” says Bensley. Leading up to the final budget proposal, according to Bensley, the Sheriff's Office only spoke with county Finance Director Dean Bott, never working directly with Menzel.

Bensley also spoke against the budget preparation process and recommendations during public comment at Wednesday's meeting.

“Draconian measures such as an eight-and-a-half percent budget reduction and hiring freezes, without careful consideration, only serve to build barriers,” Bensley said. “We surely applaud your effort to use the fund balance and reduce the healthcare payment obligation to help in balancing the budget.”

“Going forward there needs to be much more cooperation and communication between administrators and the various county departments,” he added.

Menzel said he expects the current interdepartmental dynamic to eventually be replaced with “healthy boundaries.” He also indicated he will be lifting the county-wide hiring freeze today (Thursday). “If it’s now in your budget, and approved, you can do it,” he said. Removing the freeze will allow Menzel to begin building a staff, a task he has admitted will be difficult.

Ongoing questions surrounding the possibility of bonding the county's pension liability, meanwhile, went unanswered Wednesday.

“That certainly is something that can be looked at down the road,” said Menzel. “But hopefully we can have some cost savings within the organization, make the structural changes and then you wouldn’t have to bond for as much.”

Some of those referenced structural changes are already underway. The county's Geographic Information System (GIS), Construction Code and Animal Control departments were recently eliminated, with their staff and duties reallocated. Menzel also indicated the Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control department, Register of Deeds and other departments are under review for redesign.

Even with an administrative staff and additional funds freed up through restructuring, Menzel may still have a tough time maintaining the approved budget plan.

“We want to be first at the table in January with the county administrator to let him know what...we are doing and plan to do to be successful,” said Bensley. According to the county’s 2016 projections, Public Safety will comprise 38 percent of expenditures.

Asked if he expects departments to push for a further decrease in cuts and further use of reserve funds, Menzel told The Ticker: “That’s what I’m worried about.”

“You’ve got to have a budget, and you’ve got to stick with it,” he says. “I will try to maintain budget discipline going forward.”