MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Marquette County Commission started the process of drafting a new budget for the next fiscal year Monday.
The commission heard from a wide variety of departments within the county government as well as agencies that receive funding from the county. Board Chairman Joe Derocha expressed concern after Under-Sheriff Lowell Larson revealed that there are no Sheriff’s Department road patrols between 2 am and 6 am.
“Marquette County does not have a 24/7 road patrol, so we want to get back to the 24/7 road patrol,” said Derocha. “At some point, we want to be able to fund that with some non-tax dollar money, which came from the cannabis licensing money.”
Another organization that requested funding, was the Michigan State Extension 4-H Program, which initially was to receive no funding from the county, but after hearing from the Marquette County District Director, commissioners realized the importance of funding 4-H.
“There was a flavor for the board to keep dollars for those children’s programs, and I’m inclined to agree with that. I think we need to maintain that 4-H program for kids,” said Derocha.
The commission also heard from county judges and court personnel about staffing issues in the Prosecutor’s Office.
The public budget hearings will continue Tuesday and Wednesday beginning at 1 pm in the commission chambers. The goal is to draft a county budget that will be voted on and hopefully approved in October.
