The Berrien County Board of Commissioners has approved the county budget for 2026, but that doesn’t mean it’s a done deal.

The board on Thursday heard the budget presentation from Financial Services Director Jake Litaker, who said the spending plan envisions $220 million in revenues and $230 million in expenditures, using $10 million from the reserve fund to balance out. Commissioner Alex Ott questioned that.

“ We’re not actually at a balanced budget because we’re pulling money out of the reserves and that money is coming from the general reserve fund, correct? So if someone asked me, that’s what my answer is going to be,” Ott said.

Also, commissioners had questions about some of the specifics, like cuts tha

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