ADRIAN — Lenawee County is running more than $16 million in the red — at least for now. Officials say it’s a normal part of the cycle, but the numbers still hit hard on paper.
Each spring, county revenues dip as expenses pile up ahead of the annual fall property tax collections. The May 9 income statement shows the pattern in full force: $27 million in total revenues stacked against $43 million in expenditures across all funds.
That gap is wide — but not unexpected. County finance staff emphasized the role of property tax timing, noting that revenues typically rebound in late summer and early fall.
General fund revenues currently sit at just over $5.2 million, while expenditures are nearing $15 million. Special revenue funds show a similar pattern, with $8.5 million in income versus nearly $16 million spent. Even proprietary funds — covering enterprise and internal services — are slightly in the red.
Some of the biggest deficits are due to delayed reimbursements for grant-funded programs, including sobriety court and emergency management. Others stem from backdated revenue corrections or pending annual payments not yet processed.
The county’s next financial update will likely arrive after summer tax bills go out, when the numbers are expected to flip.