The new departmental reports presented at the county board meeting Wednesday are a tangible part of that commitment, administrators said, with more to come throughout the year.
The effort comes at a time when trust in government is near an all-time low across the country.
Today, 22 percent of Americans say they trust the federal government to do what is right “just about always,” down from about 75 percent in 1958, according to the Pew Research Center.
But the picture is different at the local level. More than two-thirds — 67 percent — of Americans say they have faith in local government to do the right thing, according to a recent Gallup poll.
This matters because nearly 96 percent of all elected officials in the U.S. serve at the local level. State and federal levels, combined, account for 4 percent.
While cable television news focuses mostly on Washington politics, the policies that most affect daily life usually originate with county commissions, city councils and school boards.
EXPANDING INFO FLOW
In recent years, Grand Traverse County has increased the amount of detailed information available to the public, with some exceptions, in an ongoing attempt to build greater trust and transparency.
Wednesday’s county board study session was a case in point.
Commissioners saw public presentations from five operational areas — sort of a “mid-year update” for elected leaders.
Information from those reports, which are available online, reveal some interesting details from the front lines of county government.
For example:
HUMAN RESOURCES
Donna Kinsey , director of human resources, talked about her department’s “evolving role” in supporting nearly 600 employees across all county departments.
The HR team is at a “pivotal point, balancing technological advancements with the need for human-centric strategies,” she said.
By harnessing new software and best practices, the department is streamlining key tasks like new employee onboarding, recordkeeping, attendance and training, she added.
HR is also launching a new employee guidebook to promote a positive culture while improving clarity about important policies.
The county hired a total of 105 people in 2024 and 54 so far this year. HR staffers continue to focus on “hard-to-fill” positions such as correctional officers, public health nurses and homemaker aids.
The turnover rate among county employees was 19 percent in 2024 and stands at 9.5 percent so far in 2025.
Nationwide, turnover rates in the government sector ranges from about 18 percent to 25 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The turnover rate in sectors like retail and hospitality are usually much higher.
In 2024, a total of 110 employees “separated” (left county government), including 80 voluntary departures, 16 retirements and 14 involuntary departures. That compares to 39 voluntary, 11 retirements and four involuntary departures so far in 2025.
Kinsey said the HR department is using a “structured progressive discipline” system to handle “high-impact conduct matters.”
Disciplinary action can range from basic employee counseling all the way up to dismissal, in some cases.
FINANCE DEPARTMENT
Finance Director Dean Bott spoke to board members about the 13 “core services” it provides throughout the year, ranging from accounts payable and payroll processing to grant reporting and budget analysis.
He then outlined “a year in the life of the finance department,” showing the various “seasons” of activity that go on in a typical year.
“Some of these tasks are not ‘flashy’ but very important,” he said. In particular, the finance team must comply with detailed state laws governing county operations. Regular audits — “like a report card” — must be completed “to ensure the sound financial health of government units.”
Bott proudly noted that Grand Traverse County has received a certificate for excellence in financial reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association.
Changes to state and federal laws in recent years also require the department to stay on top of shifting requirements within the accounting world that impact many important functions including retirement/pension budgeting and how health care benefits are reported and funded.
At the end of his presentation, Bott shared some lively “fun facts” about his profession:
For example, bubblegum was invented by an accountant. Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones and Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin both worked in accounting before their performing careers took off.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
IT Director Cliff DuPuy presented a raft of financial and statistical details about his department, ranging from the costs of software to changes in telephony services.
In particular, DuPuy highlighted the projected revenue impact of separating Traverse City government from the county’s IT services, which were heretofore provided on a combined basis.
That “city divestiture” will result in a revenue loss to the county of about $376,000 to the 2026 IT budget. The “adjusted revenue” loss, which accounts for various staff transitions, reduced software licenses and other changes, is estimated to be about $285,000.
Traverse City officials decided to separate from the county’s IT services following a cyber attack last year that impacted several areas of government operations. It is working with a third-party provider to guide the transition to its own IT department.
Exactly when that transition will be completed, and its final cost, is not yet determined.
ADMINISTRATION
Board members also heard from county administration, which provided an overview of the administration’s wide-ranging responsibilities and oversight tasks throughout the year.
More specifically, the five-member staff works with 10 elected offices and 20 elected officials, as well as 17 departments and 23 appointed boards. The current employee count at the county is nearly 600.
In addition to those activities, administrators monitors the county compliance with relevant state and federal laws throughout the years.
It also responds to requests from commissioners and the public throughout the year, while facilitating access to public records, meeting and data.
Recent history shows that whenever an emergency strikes county government, such as a cyber attack, power outage or bomb threat, Administrator Nate Alger and his staff are immediately on the scene.
In the words of one department head: “When it’s all hands on deck, that’s when the coffee flows and energy drinks keep us awake for some very long days and nights until the problem gets solved.”
To access more detailed information from these presentations, visit the Grand Traverse County website and search for the meeting agenda for Wednesday, May 28 .
©2025 The Record-Eagle, Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
