Area News Headlines
These news headlines brought to you by these fine sponsors:
Tuscola County Commissioners Still Learning About 2025 Finances
Mary Drier/Mike Kaufman
Sun, 15 Feb 2026 00:42:43 EST
 |
click on the picture to enlarge
|
Although Tuscola County's 2026 budget was approved in December 2025, the results of finances in that year continue to come in.
The county's Chief Accountant Connie Keinath provided an overview of the 2025 year-end processes and the projected use of fund balance.
The Universal Chart of According to Keinath, the county's accounts are transitioning to a 10 Phase process and county is currently in Phase one.
Controller-Administrator Erica Dibble explained that the $1.9 million deficit from the first draft of the 2026 budget was rectified by department revenue and expense adjustments as well as line-item corrections that were identified.
According to Dibble, better preliminary 2025 budget numbers will be available after the Feb. 28, deadline to accrue numbers back to 2025.
A preliminary projection of finances will be provided to the board in March.
However, those numbers will be subject to adjustments based on the audit that is underway.
Commissioner Bardwell, who has repeatedly questioned the county's finances, has at times not received a definitive answer.
Bardwell said he would like the fund balance broken out by restricted funds and non-restricted funds.
Also, Commissioner Matt Koch said he would like to have a finance committee meeting scheduled regarding 2025 finances.
In other county matters, Tuscola County's Mosquito Abatement Director Larry Zapfe's roster of employees who will be working to do mosquito suppression in the coming months was approved.
His three requests to purchase materials and equipment needed for the upcoming season were also approved.
