[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6479488,"mediaKeyId","5693608-7b56d9e393d4d6b316782c782392e043","parentId",5693608,"title","Board holds narrow executive session on personnel/budget matter; no action taken","audioSeconds",238,"startMs",950000,"endMs",1188000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5693608-7b56d9e393d4d6b316782c782392e043&start=950&end=1188","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5693608-7b56d9e393d4d6b316782c782392e043/thumbnail_950000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6479488/Scotts-Bluff-County/Nebraska/Board-holds-narrow-executive-session-on-personnelbudget-matter-no-action-taken","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479488-6735acad2a6521a71b25b183a1d28969/orig.mp4?Expires=1775606780&Signature=l8ZoppoQa4nQtUbZMIdbpDykIUjo7owUHAHBqicfAOMEL6yXUYkCaulflmK5POk1-S3nOMuuZtCREj~3bXGcbIVDI2MYoTl3fnSTiIDcEl~bQMzEJ4Qp-PM2Pzoz9PStjDehVoP0G5H2aliLN5htoNIiVuarekiR~8QhXRYhXu6dScSfpgK4LN~BdXJu4SAnEQt70jgYXuWtOEcGBIIreZWvGfmrZCGjx2J4ID~kbGEUSw8RgPR1kJm6W1rbAPCF6I1BcSoBQ1nrNaHq3jR8AGt7x1~Ayl-iWo8BMv~zxkEJ-tILCEJkORWcCJFZWnyyg0UntDoQOlEWMnwHhN~0Iw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Scotts Bluff County, NE","date","2025-08-28T15:56:37Z","article","The Scotts Bluff County Board voted Sept. 8 to enter a limited executive session under Nebraska law to discuss a personnel matter that staff said was tied to a budget request.

County legal counsel Jason Ocean advised the board that the session could be held pursuant to Nebraska public meetings law, section 84-1410, for discussion of job performance and to avoid needless injury to an individual's reputation; staff said the individual had not requested a public meeting. The motion to enter closed session and the roll call vote were recorded. Those present for the executive session included commissioners and identified staff; the sheriff was not present.

The board returned to open session after approximately 30 minutes and the chair stated that no formal action or votes were taken while in executive session.

The board then resumed scheduled budget discussion.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Scotts Bluff County Commissioners Budget Workshop Thursday, August 26th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The commissioners voted to enter a limited executive session under Nebraska public meetings law to discuss a personnel matter tied to a budget request; the board reported no action was taken when it returned to open session.","taxTitle","Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska","taxId",69685,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6479492,"Commissioners debate countywide cost-of-living increase and 9-1-1 staffing amid budget review",3173,1233000,4406000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5693608-7b56d9e393d4d6b316782c782392e043&start=1233&end=4406","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5693608-7b56d9e393d4d6b316782c782392e043/thumbnail_1233000.jpg","/articles/6479492/Scotts-Bluff-County/Nebraska/Commissioners-debate-countywide-cost-of-living-increase-and-9-1-1-staffing-amid-budget-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479492-a28600e8a3ec5c838b272be90b47b2b3/orig.mp4?Expires=1775606780&Signature=AVvvK103sLSrfcw158DSWKQFa0rzcg15OR28W3bWKRO6XnrmTMEBxS4K9-2mBWgaoz1HLIuPyenemgPOaHPkA9dhcc-c1knY-ai3PpjY6Asp2~Ht9NXgDtiZSzU~wDZNlxwSE7YYT835txwnaCK2dBxgmN~NW6pq2GWTjUaQygleJR6a4jzccgvHmT3Bpvl3HNs36hLNZpbBmvMQeCNLJoudegYCHDlx9yZj8bO6ZKCA0f4Dzbe50uwkYhIpnHwHxs-tPs1j3imQEns1EoeGT5lZlDCWMj7e0MXBCBCzDjq8TWRbiDX0qP2Ti3RvamVL8lSYacYWLhDarQ6vXqAImw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioners spent the bulk of the Sept. 8 meeting reviewing the county budget, debating whether to grant a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to non-union county employees and examining staffing and overtime pressures at the county communications (9-1-1) center.

Lisa, the staff member presenting the budget worksheets, walked the board through current numbers, including a proposed ‘‘tax asking’’ figure and multiple funds that support the communications center. Assessor Robert’s valuation data underpins the county’s levy calculations, Lisa said.

Commissioners and staff discussed several interrelated topics: whether to fund a countywide COLA and how large it should be; how the county’s 9-1-1 funds (state PSAP/NextGen 9-1-1 receipts) are restricted and used; and operational strain at the comm center, where staff reported high overtime because training capacity limits the number of new hires that can be brought to full duty.

On the COLA, staff provided a worksheet showing estimated budget impacts by percentage: a 2% COLA was shown to require roughly $111,303 in additional budget authority; a 3% COLA was shown at approximately $166,607. Commissioners heard arguments both for and against adding a COLA now. Robert (the assessor) urged consideration of a COLA for non-union employees, saying many county staff would not otherwise receive increases. Some commissioners said the county can absorb a modest COLA by reallocating funds; others said they preferred to be cautious and not exceed statutory limits on property-tax increases without using reserves or taking exceptions.

The communications center presentation described multiple revenue sources and funds that cover different items: an advisory fund that pools support from cities and villages, a separate fund for state 9-1-1 receipts, and county contributions for Motorola maintenance and radio infrastructure. Lisa identified Scotts Bluff County’s portion of the comm-center budget line at roughly $123,542 for one pooled fund (figures from the packet). Staff also explained that some agency payments had been used to retire a Motorola lease and that interest on that lease created small timing discrepancies in the ledger.

Cindy (communications staff) described operational constraints causing significant overtime: the center is short-staffed for training capacity, with only a few certified trainers, which limits how many new hires can be brought online at once. Commissioners were briefed on the complexity of dispatcher training (medical protocols, scene safety, multi-tasking dispatch and telephone counseling) and on an in-person staffing alternative discussed to reduce overtime costs (hiring trained, out-of-area dispatchers to fill shifts while local hires complete training).

No final, binding vote on a countywide COLA occurred at the meeting. Several commissioners indicated informal support for a 2.5% COLA as a compromise; staff said they could rework the final budget numbers and return with a finalized package in advance of the joint public hearing set for Sept. 27. The board also instructed staff to prepare a final budget document for formal action at the public hearing or a scheduled follow-up meeting.","Budget discussions focused on whether to provide a countywide cost-of-living adjustment, how to pay it, and staffing and overtime pressures at the county communications/9-1-1 center.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6479497,"Commissioners approve wage-only reopening for sheriff's bargaining unit for 2025–26",159,765000,924000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5693608-7b56d9e393d4d6b316782c782392e043&start=765&end=924","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5693608-7b56d9e393d4d6b316782c782392e043/thumbnail_765000.jpg","/articles/6479497/Scotts-Bluff-County/Nebraska/Commissioners-approve-wage-only-reopening-for-sheriffs-bargaining-unit-for-202526","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479497-19e0bd1d4adc58e0d6db84d73fa55edc/orig.mp4?Expires=1775606780&Signature=eZNMsnKZ8V0z93-ZuBSILndV8w~9e~Nf7GcdHFS77ai9j3YADbmsgsqlTlTWHLnP0uk74UuhvlG-aknfp0PGRO7ZxrXk8jBnC5ioG4FP2J8mrrszkEDFrvShx8OI-hgnbJUZikC8l6YNlxojU9kRKIKDcN2yg0cnywn9vzSesqg7u22qguyRG4K~-fIUUFh7JFC2WGfPQi0W~fRA6gCG4i0Bi8uubIBNhUH-5hPetqKdagMKo30qbaED3frUWox4gNxReozb2L7TWnp5lXMqqIC~DMIZSD7cfEbAd8grQxMM166mqQVoEVuBsJzKOvSn~5txFUakQkgCgNro~iC~CQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Scotts Bluff County Board voted Sept. 8 to reopen the sheriff’s bargaining unit agreement for the 2025–26 fiscal year for the purpose of salary review only.

Lisa (county staff) told commissioners the county conducts an annual wage review for the sheriff’s unit using an array of comparable counties and that the union is reopened yearly for wages only. The sheriff was not present; Lisa said she could confer by phone if needed and that the wage-comparison materials had been available at an earlier executive session.

A motion to reopen the contract for salary review (wages only) carried on a roll call vote with all commissioners recorded as voting yes. Commissioners clarified the action was limited to wages and did not reopen other contract provisions or benefits.

The county will finalize the wage figures and document the change; staff indicated supporting comparison grids and the contract paperwork are in the packet or available for signature.","The board approved reopening the sheriff's union agreement for wages only based on a comparable-county review; the sheriff was not present but staff provided supporting comparisons.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6479501,"Scotts Bluff County commissioners approve preliminary levies for fiscal year 2025-26",247,496000,743000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5693608-7b56d9e393d4d6b316782c782392e043&start=496&end=743","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5693608-7b56d9e393d4d6b316782c782392e043/thumbnail_496000.jpg","/articles/6479501/Scotts-Bluff-County/Nebraska/Scotts-Bluff-County-commissioners-approve-preliminary-levies-for-fiscal-year-2025-26","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479501-162d0c50ec23f4f214de63044989f820/orig.mp4?Expires=1775606780&Signature=HqU7To8ijS5kK0BrfgfIKo87UjddhqSNvk~Ar7kj220l32qQA0NtRp0Yf0f3Mpm6JE4FdYbtnhtQXfp~ZWVlJ57O22UCuZPpfZ11m3pFLBDgTz5B0aWNptTtoJTJFFDT2KPblitKXNCAYHC9Lg6QWgV681T7ybYUcieVbljAAORhV2OXtO0pLX4ckssF~XhQ1QulsIKGNF01LTJLhJTCQtcwr89At9VTduvT2AQi9uvT9Vpdn75wZIIFbL6nHqDdgmKPcQbZPCo9ovfMGW0mu3kNZwo3suQ5jPFssvP8HSxV-DfV5PSLuA9xahelcKYhZg8OqC3yLfEOV6wKs4PP9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Scotts Bluff County commissioners voted unanimously Sept. 8 to approve a resolution establishing preliminary levies for political subdivisions, including fire districts, cemetery districts, drainage districts, the airport and the agricultural society, for the 2025–26 fiscal year.

County staff member Kelly presented the resolution and the supporting valuation figures provided by the county assessor. Kelly said the county receives valuation numbers from the assessor and prepares a levy map and that, if approved, the resolution would be mailed to the affected political subdivisions the next day.

The board’s approval followed procedural review and a brief statement from Kelly that she had double-checked the airport’s submitted request and supporting paperwork. No substantive amendments or conditions were added at the meeting.

The motion to approve the preliminary levies passed on a roll call vote with all commissioners recorded as voting yes.

The approved resolution and levy notices will be mailed to the political subdivisions; the action sets the county’s preliminary tax-asking process in motion ahead of the statutory deadlines and the joint public hearing schedule later this month.","The Scotts Bluff County Board approved a resolution setting preliminary levies for multiple political subdivisions for fiscal year 2025–26 and authorized distribution to the affected entities.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board holds narrow executive session on personnel/budget matter; no action taken

Commissioners debate countywide cost-of-living increase and 9-1-1 staffing amid budget review

Commissioners approve wage-only reopening for sheriff's bargaining unit for 2025–26

Scotts Bluff County commissioners approve preliminary levies for fiscal year 2025-26