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SARA previews next year’s budget; total held steady, modest staff increase proposed
Summary
Agency staff presented a preliminary annual budget that keeps the grand total unchanged from the current year, proposes a roughly 5% salary increase overall and a $5,000 raise for the assistant executive director, and laid out a schedule to introduce the budget at the next meeting and hold a public hearing in November.
SARA’s finance briefing on Monday showed agency staff plan to introduce a proposed budget next meeting with an overall total equal to the current year’s figure and modest staffing increases.
Finance presenter Wayne said the “grand total is the same as last year,” and staff were able to hold the total while adjusting line items after refining invoices from professionals and other expenses. Wayne said revenues are unchanged from current expectations and that anticipated investment interest may decline.
On personnel, staff proposed an approximately 5% increase in salary accounts overall and recommended increasing the assistant executive director’s budgeted compensation from $25,000 to $30,000, citing performance. Wayne asked commissioners to permit preparation of the formal state required documents so the budget can be introduced at the next meeting and scheduled for a public hearing in November (with the possibility of moving the hearing to December if amendments are needed).
Why it matters: the agency must adopt its annual budget by its statutorily required deadline; staff said keeping the total unchanged avoids new revenue assumptions while recognizing personnel cost increases.
Discussion vs. decision: commissioners reviewed the draft and requested a spelling correction in one line item; no formal adoption occurred. Staff will have the auditor prepare the full state filing document for introduction at the next meeting.
Next steps: auditor to prepare the official budget document for introduction next meeting; staff aim for a public hearing in November and formal adoption thereafter.
