By Bob Allen
Benzie County is expected to phase-out its planning and zoning departments by the end of the year. It's a cost-cutting move that would affect seven townships that rely on the county to decide what growth goes where.
The townships could drop planning and zoning entirely, or they could decide to adopt their own programs. Or the townships could decide to kick-in enough funding to keep the county programs going.
Planning director Dave Neiger says Benzie has been one of the fastest growing counties in the state.
"And because of all that growth, in new construction and increasing property taxes we've been able to keep our heads above water," he says. "But now the new construction has dropped off dramatically."
The County is facing a budget shortfall of about $200,000.
The state does not require local governments to do planning and zoning.
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