Delaware County commissioners and staff discussed proposed pay adjustments, department givebacks, and broader choices about funding raises during the budget hearing.

Proposed pay adjustments discussed included $1,000 increases for communications technicians, pay adjustments for planning commission staff (including a larger increase for the principal planner), $1,000 for building maintenance support staff and $1,000 increases for paramedics and EMTs. The presenter said those proposed changes (excluding workers' compensation adjustments) would total $93,643 in added salary costs.

The planning commission issue drew specific attention: commissioners were presented a correction that would move one planning position closer to parity with other planner positions. A council member asked for the total fiscal impact; staff responded that the planning-commission adjustment would be approximately $99,000 when combined with related changes, and that the county receives reimbursements that offset some planning salaries.

Staff also presented a list of departmental "givebacks" (funds departments return to the county during budget reconciliation). The finance staff summarized county-general givebacks totaling $57,810 and additional givebacks on another schedule (page 55) totaling about $32,096. "The total giveback amount is 57,810," staff said during the hearing.

Council members debated funding options. Some argued that using operating reserves this year would provide short-term relief and allow raises without immediate cuts; others warned dipping into reserves is not sustainable. Commissioner Hughes said using reserves to avoid difficult choices this year would compound problems later: "To me, the easy choice this year is to dip into our operating balance. Then we can all leave, and everybody can leave happy this year. To me, the compound effect of that will be next year." Another member said they would not favor reducing the operating balance but might consider a smaller draw (for example, $500,000) if large insurance payments are deferred.

Staff noted that some potential savings from changes to the county clinic and health-insurance premiums have not been finalized and therefore were not included in the calculations presented. Councilors asked department heads to pursue givebacks and for staff to return with clarified numbers.

No final personnel raises or other binding decisions were adopted at the hearing. The council directed further reconciliation of givebacks, clarification of health-insurance and clinic-related savings, and a review of the planning commission correction and its reimbursements before the budget is adopted.