Board of Commissioners Study Session - June 9, 2026

The Benzie County Board of Commissioners held a study session on June 9, 2026, focusing primarily on internal administrative and operational updates. Key procurement-related discussions included updates on staffing and recruitment efforts for IT and shelter attendant positions, highlighting challenges such as a candidate rescinding acceptance and ongoing resume reviews. A detailed presentation was given on the county's payroll system complexities, emphasizing the manual processes involved in integrating benefits and payroll software, managing multiple pay codes, union contracts, and vendor invoice reconciliations. The board discussed the potential need for additional dedicated payroll staff to improve efficiency, though budget constraints were noted. Additionally, the board reviewed and moved forward a draft cash handling policy to establish best practices and internal controls for cash and check processing, including counterfeit detection procedures. The session also covered opioid funding requests from Catholic Human Services, which will be forwarded for full board consideration. Finally, the commissioners planned upcoming budget meeting dates, noting a relatively flat budget outlook with minor adjustments anticipated for grant-funded programs and contractual obligations such as cost-of-living adjustments.