Berrien County will have to draw on its reserves to balance its budget for 2025.

The Berrien County Board of Commissioners on Thursday heard from Financial Services Director Doug James about the planned budget for the year. He says the county is expected to have total revenues of $216 million and expenditures of $233.9 million. It has to make up the difference somehow.

“Primary government expenditures and uses would be $233.953 million,” James said. “Property taxes of $65.764 million. Other revenues of $150.916 million. And a use of net change in position, or a use of reserves, of $17,274,000.”

James notes the county’s biggest sources of funds, in order, are intergovernmental revenue, property taxes, and benefits reimbursements.

On the property tax front, Berrien County back in April surpassed the $10 billion mark in total taxable value, boosting revenues. However, a drop in the taxable value of the Cook nuclear power plant has also hit the county’s coffers while federal ARPA dollars run out.

The county’s biggest expense is wages and benefits, with the county expected to have 842 employees next year, only slightly up from this year.

After some adjustments, James said the budget for next year is balanced.