The Eaton County Ways & Means Committee voted Nov. 14 to ask the full Board of Commissioners to approve a budget amendment extending county planning and zoning services through June 30, giving local townships more time to form joint arrangements or adopt their own planning rules.

The motion, carried by voice vote, followed repeated questions from public commenters and township officials about whether townships were prepared to assume zoning responsibilities. "My main concern today is the proposed decision to end planning zoning and its adverse effect on the townships in Eaton County," said Scott Smith, a Sunfield resident and member of the Sunfield Village Council, during limited public comment.

Administration staff said the original FY25/26 budget assumed $185,000 in contributions from local units and additional permit revenue. So far this year the department has recorded $24,750 in permit receipts, staff said. Claudine (administration) told the committee the county has a separate master‑plan fund and a $50,000 grant awarded to update the master plan; about $20,000 has already been spent on that work. She warned that stopping the county’s master‑plan project now could risk having to return grant funds if the consultant’s work is not completed.

Committee discussion centered on timing and fairness. Commissioners and staff outlined two paths for townships that opt out of the county plan: (1) form a joint municipal planning act (several townships are exploring this), or (2) develop independent master plans and ordinances. Administration proposed using the existing master‑plan grant and a master‑plan reserve (staff reported roughly $73,000 in the county comprehensive plan fund) to help townships that choose a joint approach with consultant or legal costs, rather than providing direct payments to townships.

Ben, deputy administrator for human resources, and planning staff described how the department could reduce personnel hours and limit nonessential expenditures to stretch resources through June. "We can manage staff time and make a conservative revenue projection so the operation can continue until June 30," administration said.

Commissioners pressed for clarity and a firm end date so townships can plan. Several commissioners said an earlier deadline would help local officials prepare while others argued for more time for township deliberations. The committee settled on forwarding a budget amendment and an explicit June 30 timeline to the full board for adoption.

What happens next: the committee’s recommended budget amendment and timeline will appear at the full Board of Commissioners meeting. Townships are expected to report back to county staff in late November and early December on whether they intend to participate in a joint municipal planning act; the board could then move to formally repeal or modify the county ordinance according to the legal notice and publication requirements discussed by staff.

The committee’s action is budgetary and procedural; it does not itself repeal the county zoning ordinance. Questions about specific funding allocations to townships, or whether individual townships will receive direct consultant support, will be decided by the full board.