News Photo by Kayla Wikaryasz On Thursday, the Alpena County Commissioners are seen attending a full-board meeting in Alpena. County Administrator Jesse Osmer presented the projected Fiscal Year 2026 budget at the meeting.

ALPENA — The Alpena County Commissioners got their first breakdown of the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY2026) budget at a board of commissioners meeting on Thursday.

During a presentation by County Administrator Jesse Osmer, it was revealed that the county’s projected budget for FY2026 will include a surplus of about $16,000. The county will deposit the surplus into the county’s savings after the budget is adopted by the full board of commissioners, at the next full-board meeting in November.

There could be small tweaks in the dollar amounts in the proposed budget before it is adopted, Osmer said, but he said he didn’t expect potential changes to be significant.

Osmer noted that in FY2025, the county only had a surplus of around $700 after revenue and expenditures.

“So a slight increase in the right direction,” Osmer said.

Osmer told the board that the budgeted revenue for the FY2026 budget is projected to total $13,314, 935 while the projected expenditures are expected to total $13, 297, 998.

Osmer proposed to the board that they adopt a new policy to adjust the percentage threshold of its savings to expenditures ratio for when layoffs in the county occur.

Prior to the proposal, the county’s savings could not dip below 24.97% of budgeted expenses before part-time employees were laid-off. Likewise, the county’s savings could not dip below 19.97% before full-time employees were laid-off.

Those numbers have changed to 25% and 20% If fund balance dips below 25% part-time and seasonal employees will be laid off and full-time employees will be laid off if it is drops below 20%.

At the meeting, Osmer reported to the board that the county is currently above 27% of savings to operating costs. He said he projects the county to end at about 30% of savings by the end of the year.

It was only a few years ago the county struggled to keep its fund balance above the criteria set in policy to avoid layoffs, so the stabilization of the fund balance is welcome.

According to county policy, when the fund balance remains well above the 25% threshold of savings to operating costs, then the county must use some of those extra funds to improve services for residents or pay for needed infrastructure projects.

To conclude his presentation, Osmer told the board that for FY2026, the county will have another balanced budget with all thresholds met and no projected layoffs.

IN OTHER BUSINESS

Prior to Osmer’s FY2026 projected budget presentation, the board made a motion to approve a $2.4 million construction contract with Meridian Contracting Services, LLC for two ten-unit t-hangars at the Alpena County Regional Airport.

Commissioner Todd Britton, who is an owner of Meridian, abstained from the vote.

The board also approved a contractual increase with Mid Michigan Medical Examiner Group to total $498 per case, which will take effect with the 2026 calendar year.

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.