2026-01-27 BudgetBudget Update
January 27, 2026
2 p.m.
Present: Commissioner Pollock, Commissioner Brummer, Commissioner Swope, Becky Butler
Guest(s): None
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Public comment: None.
Becky Butler provided the following updates:
2026 budget: Working on the following to review by March 2:
• COLA and benefit costs by department and fund.
• Revenue options, including public safety tax and cannabis changes.
• Fund Balance projections for 2026-2028 with new wages.
2025 year-end
• Working with the Auditor on finalizing operating transfers - won’t need the full $1.1 million as
Public Health doesn’t need the transfer.
• November and December sales tax has not yet been received.
• Year-end will close the first week of March.
• Revenue is at $45.8 million year to date
• Expenditures are at $46.7 million year to date
• $1.2 million rolled back in salaries and benefits.
• DNR was $1.2 million for the year and is expected to drop dramatically in the future.
• Investment interest is at $3.6 million year to date, a $369,000 increase over estimates.
• District Court traffic fees and fines totaled $341,000 over estimates (significant increase in
filings: 23,000 in 2025 compared to 10,000 in 2022).
2026 Budget Amendment: Upcoming amendment will include the following:
• Attorney fees
• Broadband retainage
• Insurance premiums
• 911 Three Towers project that was approved by the E Board
Risk Updates
• Policy updates poised to be adopted Feb. 17.
• Working on finalizing confined space program for Facilities in coordination with LNI.
Public Defense
• Public Defense Ordinance: Scott Gripp is working on an update of the Ordinance following the
Supreme Court order eliminating experience as a factor in case weighting.
• Legal financial obligations (LFOs): Proposed legislation HB 2102 would have a negative impact on
county revenue and would prevent the county from implementing Promissory Notes.
• Judges have provided positive feedback public defense program and the county’s new contract
attorneys. Staff interviewed a potential District Court attorney earlier in the day.
Broadband: All construction is complete. RBC is doing punch list cleanup (not billable) over the next
month. Waiting on a few affidavits from subs.
Staffing: Working on recruitment for the Risk Position or a reorg opportunity.
Announcements
• ARPA report completed for Q4.
• Tracking various bills, including:
o 2442 regarding local revenue options
o 5912 regarding a potential Indigent Defense task force
o 2102 regarding legal financial obligations (LFOs)
o 1592 regarding public defense funding
• Group seeking expansion of BOCC from three to five has called for information regarding BOCC
costs.
• Working on rental policy for use of county rooms.
• Looking at “parametrics” insurance for natural disasters.
Meeting adjourned at 2:56 p.m.