County approves tentative plan for six new deputies for 2024

Don Reid, Coldwater Daily Reporter
·4 min read

BRANCH COUNTY — The official vote comes Tuesday, but at Thursday’s county commission work session, the five commissioners agreed unanimously to budget six new sheriff road patrol deputies in 2024 to return to 24-hour patrols.

The commission tentatively approved the proposal to assess all county agencies and departments 100% of the costs of providing indirect services from the general government beginning in 2025.

Township leaders and elected official fill the county commission courthouse meeting room for the discussion on funding and hiring six new road patrol deputies for 2024.
Township leaders and elected official fill the county commission courthouse meeting room for the discussion on funding and hiring six new road patrol deputies for 2024.

Elected officials and township supervisors helped fill the small courthouse meeting room. The 16 townships called for returning more deputies to the road for rural protection in resolutions. 

Sheriff John Pollack said six new deputies are the minimum needed to replace 11 laid off in 2013 with budget cuts forced by the 2008-09 recession and bring back 24-hour deputy patrols.

Commissioner Randall Hazelbaker suggested adding two deputies a year, as the commission did in 2020. Commission Tom Matthew agreed.

Branch County Sheriff Office
Branch County Sheriff Office

Chairman Tim Stoll said, “We’ve had a bunch of half measures over the years. I’m just trying to solve the problem now.”

A committee of Stoll, Commissioner Alan McClelland, the sheriff, Administrator Bud Norman, and Treasurer Steve Rutz reviewed the townships' request.

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Stoll said the committee “felt satisfied, based on a review, the coverage was needed on a seven-day-a-week schedule, 365 days a year.”

The sheriff estimated the 2024 cost around $700,000 or more, increasing to $1 million by 2026.

Seventeen suggested sources of revenue were reduced to seven by the committee.

Where the committee proposed finding funds: 

  • One-time improvement in operation efficiencies saves $200,000, but only in 2024.

  • Reducing current overtime by $75,000 a year, increasing as salaries increase.

  • Charging departments and agencies reimbursement for direct costs – $75,000 a year.

  • Opioid settlement proceeds – $200,000 a year through 2033 when payments end.

  • Use of $172,000 of American Rescue Plan Act federal funds for 2024. That revenue would end in 2025 with an ARPA program allocation of $60,000.

  • The Cost Allocation Plan – CAP – which now charges some agencies for 50% of indirect services, would replace ARPA funds in 2025, increasing those charges by $300,000 a year minimum after that. 

By consensus, commissioners will not put a special millage on the ballot to fund new deputies.

Drain/Public Works Commissioner Mike Hard warned that the only way his departments could pay the CAP was to pass the cost to users. That will increase sewer rates around Coldwater Lake. Lake weed control and dam maintenance assessment would go up county-wide.

Commission On Aging Executive Director Amy Duff said, “It is not possible to absorb this expense without implications for Branch County residents.”

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The top COA priority is continuing Meals on Wheels and Congregate Meals at the Burnside Center. “Other programs to help seniors at home including like bathing, cleaning and medical transportation” are endangered, Duff warned.

The COA options are to limit services to seniors or to seek an increase in the senior millage, Duff said.

Commissioner Jon Houtz said the CAP takes tax money from one pot and puts it in another to fund new deputies.

Houtz said the county cannot afford the deputies. For the current budget, “A year ago we had to dig in reserves $187,000. Now we’re adding $700,000 and try to balance a budget. We couldn’t even do one (new deputy) last year," he said.

Tim Stoll
Tim Stoll

Stoll pushed forward with the plan for six deputies and proposed CAP funding. “I think we need to do this because that’s the recommendation. It has to be part of (the plan) otherwise it’s not funded,” the chairman said of the proposal.

The CAP funds a third of the cost.

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Stoll promised the county would keep separate accounts of the expenses and revenues to monitor the plan.

Stoll added, “We continue to explore other options.”

Final approval for the new deputies must be approved when the commission adopts the 2024 budget in December.

---Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com. 

This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: County approves tentative plan for six new deputies for 2024