County financial staff and commissioners told the council that two budget pressures — lower expected investment income and a projected increase in insurance premiums — could materially reduce the county's discretionary resources for 2026.

Finance staff said projected lower interest income (attributable to anticipated Federal Reserve rate cuts) will reduce non‑tax revenue by roughly $300,000. Offsetting expected increases in property and income tax revenues would leave about $140,000 of new resources in county general fund projections, staff said. That margin is likely to be consumed rapidly if insurance premiums rise as projected.

Early budget planning assumed a 10% increase in the county's insurance premium lines, which staff estimated would cost about $220,000. Commissioners said anything above that 10% figure would force difficult choices among raises, benefit levels and positions. "The real challenge is gonna be that insurance…if we do 10% on our insurance premium, that's $220,000 by itself," a county official said.

Commissioners also noted other recurring budget pressures: funding for courthouse IT upgrades estimated at $150,000 in one fund, audit/exam costs that are passed to the county and subsequently billed back to local taxing units, and operational items that historically revert unspent at year end but are being watched more closely. Officials said they will try to tighten discretionary spending and return with more detailed options if premiums exceed assumptions.

No formal decisions were made; commissioners and finance staff asked department heads to rank priorities and submitted smaller line‑item reductions where possible. Staff committed to produce updated projections and scenarios ahead of the next appropriation vote.