The Washtenaw County budget is in much better shape through the second fiscal quarter than originally projected.
As WEMU's Andrew Cluley reports, the question now under debate is how best to use the additional money.
Washtenaw County's budget is doing better than expected. Revenues are on pace to exceed original projections by more than three million dollars.
The County Commissioners last night discussed how best to utilize the windfall, but postponed a final vote on a second quarter budget amendment until next month. Commissioner Conan Smith proposed spending an additional $1.8 million on human services. County Administrator Verna McDaniel reminded commissioners that this would limit the county's ability to rebuild reserves.
Commission Chair Yousef Rabhi says each commissioner has priorities they would like funded. He says delaying the budget amendments a month will allow the commissioners to develop a plan for how to best use the revenue. The county originally planned to use over three million dollars in reserves this year,
Now, it's likely no reserves will be expended and instead the county's fund balance will increase by roughly $245,000.
