Jackson, Mich. (WKHM, Marc W. Daly) — Jackson County Commissioners are scaling back cuts to the Sheriff’s office after voters rejected a proposed jail millage in November. Following a study session and public hearing, commissioners identified $585,000 in reductions to departments like Administration, Drain Commission, IT, Facilities, and the Courts. These adjustments allowed the planned cut to the Sheriff’s budget to drop from $1 million to $615,000 in the proposed 2025 budget.

Undersheriff Christopher Simpson called the reduced cut an improvement but warned it doesn’t guarantee normal operations.

Commissioner Corey Kennedy, who proposed the changes, says the adjustments should avoid layoffs among current Sheriff’s staff but noted that filling vacancies or new hiring may require tapping into the County’s budget reserves.

The Commission narrowly rejected a plan to cut $50,000 from the Enterprise Group, a non-profit focused on economic development, which currently receives $100,000 in county funding.

A final vote on the 2025 budget is scheduled for Tuesday, December 17.