2026 Budget Discussion Update for July 14, 2025

During the July 14 budget work session, the Board of County Commissioners reviewed staffing requests, capital improvements project funding, and department reductions for the 2026 budget.

Key discussion points included:

• A $250,000 reduction to the Public Works budget
• A change in the Capital Improvements Project (CIP) fund transfer from $3.5 million to $2.5 million
• Commissioners signaled their support for the following staffing requests:
  1. Appraiser's Office: Reclassification of positions with a total budget impact of ($13,302)
  2. Health Department: Transition of the Public Health Nurse position from full-time exempt to part-time seasonal (available four months per year), and the addition of a Full-Time Billing and Coding Clerk, resulting in no net budget impact
  3. Historical Museum: Expansion of hours for as-needed assistants, with a budget impact of $5,254.28
  4. Community Corrections: Expansion of hours for as-needed juvenile intake officers, with a budget impact of $3,662

Position requests NOT approved for the 2026 budget include:

• County Attorney's Office: A new criminal investigator position ($91,487 with benefits)
• Public Works: A custodial position ($54,754 with benefits), which was voluntarily withdrawn by the department

Both unapproved position requests will likely be re-submitted for the 2027 budget.

The next budget work session is scheduled for Thursday, July 17, when Commissioners will discuss the Revenue Neutral Rate (RNR). This marks the final opportunity to declare whether the 2026 budget will exceed the dollar amount of the 2025 budget. Based on current projections and prior discussions, the 2026 budget is expected to exceed the revenue neutral rate.