The new state budget is good news for Berrien County, although some of the benefits are one-time only. The Berrien County Board of Commissioners was briefed this week by Mike Krombeen of consulting firm Midwest Strategies on the budget. Krombeen said one positive is an increase in revenue sharing.
“Revenue sharing saw a 4% ongoing increase, and a 1% increase if you spend all of your ARPA dollars, as well as a 2% one-time funding for public safety,” Krombeen said.
Krombeen said the Legislature did a good job of spending the surplus on one-time projects, instead of new programs that will only be cut later. Included in the budget is $200,000 for Berrien County to study a new jail. Looking at what lawmakers will do next, Krombeen said there is likely some short-term rental legislation coming this fall. He said it will be more favorable to local governments than the last bill, which was opposed by commissioners and would have reduced local control over zoning restrictions for short-term rentals. Commission Chair Mac Elliott asked to be kept in the loop.
“I would like to see that anything that’s ruled out respects the rights of people who live there year-round to have the quiet enjoyment of their homes that they’ve paid for, they pay the taxes,” Elliott said. “They didn’t buy it with the thought that somebody was going to come in for the weekend and jam 20 people into a three bedroom home.”
Krombeen said the budget includes $1 million for a waste and recycling transfer station in Benton Harbor and $100,000 for a water career and workforce development pilot program in Benton Harbor. Regarding the $150 million to restart the Palisades plant, he said it signals state lawmakers are serious about supporting the effort. Krombeen said, “Michigan is all in on it,” and will come up with another $150 million if the federal government does its part.
