Hackel Presents Balanced 2014 Budget for Macomb County

Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel presented the 2014 county budget Monday to the Board of Commissioners. 

This is the third straight year Hackel has presented a balanced budget to the Board of Commissioners, and this year, it maintains current services and includes the elimination of furlough days without using money from the fund balance.  There will also be no county tax increases.

"We think it will really give a shot in the arm to the different departments and increase productivity," said Macomb County Finance Director Peter Provenzano.

This elimination of six furlough days could lead to the increased hours at county facilities such as the Macomb County Health Department Southeast Health Center in St. Clair Shores.

"This is a way to bring more manpower back into the system," he added.

The Board of Commissioners now have 90 days to consider and approve the budget. The document presented by the County Executive  does not have any cuts, and maintains the current level of staffing. This comes as county anticipates fees, transfer tax and property taxable values remain "flat." 

But in a change from previous years, the county expects an increase in state revenue sharing and liquor tax collections. 

"Back when I first got in (in 2011), I was given a budget that wasn't sound. It wasn't balanced. I had to fix it," Hackel said of his first budget, which had a $13.5 million gap but ended up being balanced. "This is our third budget that we are presenting to the board, that is once again a balanced budget with a surplus not using a fund balance."

The budget will be available for review on the Macomb County website.