CENTREVILLE – St. Joseph County approved budgets for 2020 and 2021. But it was close.

By a vote of 3-2, the St. Joseph County Commissioners approved the two year budget during their meeting Tuesday afternoon. Before the vote, Commissioner Allen Balog spoke and shared that he had some concerns with the budget.

Balog says with Governor Whitmer vetoing several items in the State budget, St. Joseph County could see fewer funds coming to them, which could mean the cutting of a road patrol position with the Sheriff's Department.

Balog says the County should consider paying less towards the completion of Constantine Road to make sure the County has officers on the road to help all of St. Joseph County and not just a small segment of it).

Commissioner Dan Czajkowski says the road work being done over the last few years is due to a partnership between the County, the Road Commission and area townships. Czajkowski says the County needs to continue in helping get the project finished. He says it would be wrong to leave just two miles of the road undone after all of this work.

The 2020 budget has estimated revenues and expenditures of just over $18 million, while the 2021 budget has estimated revenues and expenditures of $18.4 million.