Media Release

• General Fund total -- $134.4 million.
• Unincorporated Services Municipal Services Taxing Unit total -- $6 million.
• Law Enforcement MSTU total -- $17.4 million.
• Fire Services MSTU total -- $14.9 million.
• Tentative millage rates continue to decline:

• Countywide taxable value decreased by $65 million -- a 0.5% decline.
• MSTU taxable value decreased by $248 million -- a 4.28% decline.
• MSTU-Law Enforcement has increased due to the addition of the City of Newberry. 
• MSTU-Unincorporated and MSTU-Fire have a higher decrease than the Countywide value primarily due to the Butler Plaza annexation.
• A one-time $500 bonus has been budgeted for each employee.

• Decreases in revenue projections are continuously being reported creating much uncertainty as to the future of valued community services.
• Additional unfunded mandates from the State including one FTE for the "Citizens Right to Know Act" and, pending litigation, the Regional Conflict Counsel's Article V requirement.
• This is the second year in a row that the County was unable to provide salary adjustments to keep up with the rise of inflation.
• The Board of County Commissioners only added 2 total FTEs to keep up with the increasing demands of our County.
• Taxable value increased within the Law Enforcement MSTU however, due to Amendment 1, additional State legislative actions, and the Butler Plaza Annexation there is a deficit over an $830,000 in this fund. To address this shortcoming, $1.2 million was removed from the General Fund and placed into the MSTU-Law Enforcement Fund, putting a further strain on maintaining current levels of service.
• New Jail Barracks, EMS Station, and Jonesville Fire Rescue Station are scheduled to be completed. Also, the ground breaking for the LEED Standard ("Green") Court Support Building is scheduled to take place.

To view the entire budget document click the following link:

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