By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
ST. JOSEPH, MI – With leaders in Lansing not appearing to be close to passing a new budget, Berrien County leaders are looking at what they can do if the state government shuts down at the end of September.
County Commissioner Jim Curran and County Administrator Brian Dissette broached the subject at last week’s Board of Commissioners meeting. Dissette told commissioners that he will be inviting lobbyist Mike Krombeen to this week’s county board meeting.
Krombeen works with Midwest Strategy Group and is a consultant to Berrien County on state legislative matters. He promotes the county’s interest in Lansing and also reports back to county officials on a quarterly basis.
Curran said the administration committee, which he chairs, has agreed on what they want the county’s strategy to be if a state government shutdown occurs.
“We talked about the impact of the state not passing a budget,” he said. “Collectively we are not in favor of laying off any of our employees if that happens. We believe we can use in-house county money or borrow money to keep going.”
“Next week, Mike Krombeen will be with us to talk about the state of the state,” Dissette said. “I would encourage everyone to be here; it will be a good conversation with an update on the status of the state budget and the likelihood of the budget getting approved and avoiding a state shutdown.”
Dissette said that the county health department, county road department, and public defender’s office would likely be the first county departments to see immediate effects from a shutdown as they rely at least in part on state funding.
He also pointed out that the county could handle a brief government shutdown with its own funding but would have to borrow money if the shutdown lasts for weeks or months. The county would be reimbursed for its costs once a budget is in place, he added.
Last week’s meeting also featured action on accepting money from an additional national opioid settlement. The county is expected to get $2 million in additional funds over the next 18 years from the Purdue Pharma settlement.
The county previously signed onto another national opioid settlement agreement for $8 million. The county is using monies from both settlements to fund programs fighting substance abuse addictions.
Last week’s county board meeting also featured a presentation of the annual medical examiner report on deaths in the county. The county contracts with the Stryker School of Medicine at Western Michigan University for medical examiner services.
Dr. Patrick Hansma presented the annual report to county commissioners. He said 525 Berrien County deaths were investigated by his office last year. Of that number, just 29 were determined to be accidental drug-related, which is a nearly 50% drop from the 50 drug-related deaths in the county in 2023.
Hansma said the drop in the number of drug-related deaths could be due to the more widespread availability and use of Narcan, which reverses the effects of drug overdoses. He also credited the new programs implemented recently with funding from the original opioid settlement.
His office investigates deaths that are due to violence, that are unexpected and unexplained, not attended by a physician, the result of an abortion, in a county or city jail, and from diseases constituting a larger threat to the populace.
In an honorary resolution, county commissioners honored Ted Chase who is retiring as the Galien Township Fire Chief. Chase has served with the department for 31 years and has been the chief since 2015.
The resolution noted Chase’s commitment to service. “Beyond his fire service, Ted has been a valued community member volunteering his time with the Buchanan Area Chamber of Commerce and with the Buchanan High School Marching Band,” the resolution stated.