AUDIO: Kalamazoo County commission approves 2025 budget, pay raise

KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Kalamazoo County commissioners have approved their tentative 2025 budget, but it wasn’t unanimous and there was controversy.

A proposal to raise commissioner salaries by about 80% was once again met with opposition, this time from angry county employee groups.

45th district state House candidate Doug Murch also opposed it.

It passed by a one vote margin, with supporters on the board basically saying you get what you pay for, and right now they aren’t even being paid minimum wage.

The commission also voted narrowly to renew funding for the YWCA Reproductive Health Program, and vice chair John Taylor said it was only because it doesn’t fund abortions.

The commission also barely passed a request to contribute a million dollars to the RX Kids program, which will provide new mothers in the city with about $7,500 over a year and a half to get their child off to a good start.

Commissioner Jen Strebs says it’s a terrific program.

Some commissioners objected because the pilot project will only be applied in the city of Kalamazoo and not countywide, but the city is where all the infant mortality hot spots are located.

Commissioners also approved a $100,000 request from Kalamazoo Valley Community College to help fund a new Skilled Trades Wing at their Texas Township campus.

It passed 6 to 2.

The overall budget was approved on an 8 to 1 vote.

Republican Wendy Mazer was the only opponent.

It will take effect January 1st.