County Administrator Wren Outlines 2017 Budget

County Administrator Wren Outlines 2017 Budget 
By N3 News Team

Newaygo County Administrator Christopher Wren unveiled the county’s 2017 Fiscal Year Budget at the Finance Committee meeting of the Board of Commissioners Wednesday morning.
​
Outlining an overall fiscal approach aimed at providing the needed resources for future expenditures and capital projects, Mr. Wren spoke to increased health care costs and the need to... ​

---

...develop a different strategy toward containing these expenditures as a top priority.

The initial budget presented to Mr. Wren by elected officials and department heads was a request list outlining the needs of each department toward continuing and expanding services. The total was $2.5 million over budget resulting in cuts and adjustments as well as the use of fund balance monies bring the budget to a balance.

Mr. Wren reviewed with the board the continued slow growth of revenues and methods being considered to increase these within each department giving examples of ways this could be accomplished.

The budget included a 2% pay increase for employees not bound by contractual language and no increase in health care contributions from employees.

The Administrator also listed a number of projects to come from the Capital Improvements Fund to address improvements in handicapper accessibility, equipment upgrades, and other infrastructure needs.

“This budget is a flexible document that is subject to change as the need may arise and information becomes available and priorities change,” he stated in his summary.

Mr. Wren thanked the Board, the elected officials, department heads judiciary and administrative staff for their cooperation in the development of what he termed “A strong fiscal outline for Budget Year 2017.”
​
The budget will be presented to the full board for approval at their regular meeting on Wednesday September 14th at 9:30am.