Jefferson County commissioners on Aug. 22 told department heads they have a balanced budget for the coming year and reported approximately $400,000 in increased wages across county positions after a round of budget adjustments. The board also approved claims totaling $581,235.99 covering the period Aug. 9–22, 2025.

Why it matters: wage increases affect county staffing, recruitment and recurring personnel costs; a balanced budget statement signals administrators believe revenues and expenditures have been reconciled for the coming fiscal year.

Details from the meeting: commissioners thanked staff, including Audrey (payroll) and Rebecca (budget staff), for work on payroll and budgeting. The chair noted the county is governed by a 3% state cap on budgets, excluding new construction, and said the administration worked to increase wages “wherever we could.” Commissioners characterized roughly $400,000 as the neighborhood figure for total wage increases included in the budget.

Claims and audits: the board approved claims in the amount of $581,235.99 for Aug. 9–22, 2025 by motion and roll call. The county also approved an external audit performed by Cyril and Hart Associates and a $2,500 letter of intent to the Westside Soil Conservation District.

Discussion versus formal action: the wage figures were discussed as part of the budget process; the formal board actions on the claims, the audit approval and the soil conservation letter were recorded as motions and approved by roll call.

What was not decided: specific step increases or individual personnel actions were to be handled by departments through personal action forms where applicable, and some step increases were to be applied later in the year per department direction.