On top of approving a new agreement between the county and the Huron County Economic Development Corporation (EDC), the Sanilac County Board of Commissioners approved the 2023 county budget during their Tuesday meeting.
Commissioners met December 6 to address new business, but first took care of a resolution presented at the last November meeting by Carl Osentoski, the Executive Director of Huron County’s Economic Development. The one-year agreement starts the first of January, with the EDC to offer economic consultation to Sanilac County by way of grant writing help, job creation assistance, regional project advice and any other economic development activities, as well as giving quarterly reports to the board.
In exchange, the EDC will have an almost $26,500 budget from the board, with the board also providing a telephone number (989-269-6431) and possibly a mailing address for the associated office.
Further business included adopting the $16.6 million budget for the 2023 fiscal year, with the commissioners also establishing millage rates, with the highest being a 2.00 mill for the County Road Commission. The county drug task force will be receiving a 0.5 mill in 2023, with the library, county parks, Medical Care Facility, 911 Emergency Services, the S.A.V.E. Council and recycling initiatives each receiving 0.20 of a mill for their funding.
The 2023 budget also established the maximum number of permanent full-time equated employees who can be employed and paid for by Sanilac County will be about 171 positions. Despite the established number, the budget makes clear that the number may change with the eventual fiscal reality, with the board reserving the right to change the approved position list and impose hiring freezes as needed.
