Douglas County Treasurer discusses revenue challenges and election cost increases

The Douglas County Board of Commissioners held budget hearings on July 10, 2025, focusing on key financial projections and operational challenges facing the county's treasurer's office and election management.

During the meeting, it was reported that annual revenue is expected to stabilize between $850,000 and $900,000 under the current fee structure. Ken Brown, a representative from the treasurer's office, provided insights into these projections and highlighted the office's role in collecting and distributing property taxes and vehicle registration fees. However, he noted that revenue from the motor vehicle operations fund is not keeping pace with staffing costs, leading to the transfer of multiple positions to the general fund in recent years. Moving forward, any additional personnel expenses may need to be covered by an increase in fees or further reliance on the general fund.

The treasurer's office also manages the county's investments, which have been positively impacted by rising interest rates, increasing from approximately 0.25% during the pandemic to around 4% currently. A supplemental request for a new full-time position, a registration tax specialist, was also presented for consideration.

In discussions about election costs, concerns were raised regarding the rising expenses associated with conducting elections. Factors contributing to these increases include higher costs for materials and postage, as well as legislative changes mandating new requirements for ballot paper. The treasurer's office indicated that these changes could significantly inflate administrative costs, particularly if new federal legislation regarding voter identification passes.

The meeting also touched on the utilization of the Sixth Street office for vehicle registrations, with officials noting a slow but steady increase in customer traffic as residents adjust to the new location. The treasurer's office is actively working to promote awareness of this office to improve its usage.

Overall, the budget hearings underscored the financial pressures facing Douglas County, particularly in managing operational costs and adapting to legislative changes affecting election procedures. The board will continue to evaluate these issues as they finalize the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.