County budget schedule set; staff warn of COVID-era grant clawbacks and change to 1095-C reporting

Ida Shunk Thompson, Sheridan County Clerk and County Budget Officer, told commissioners the county has compiled requested budgets and expects to deliver the assembled requested budget to commissioners on April 21, ahead of the statutory May deadline. She said the county will schedule concentrated budget meetings in May and shorten department presentation blocks from 30 to 15 minutes so the meeting start time reflects when departments will be heard.

Thompson said the goal is to avoid misleading published times for departments and to encourage attendees to arrive at the meeting start because discussion lengths will vary. She told the commission she has been coordinating revenue estimates with the assessor and treasurer and thanked county staff for meeting deadlines.

County staff also warned commissioners that some COVID-era grants are being reclaimed. Cameron said the county received a notice that one grant of about $397,000 had been clawed back; staff said the county had spent ‘‘maybe $40 or $50,000’’ of that grant since Feb. 2001 and will need to revise the budget documents to remove the revenue previously included. Cameron said the county will notify the commission as additional clawbacks are confirmed.

Cameron also told the commission that the IRS reporting requirement for 1095-C forms has changed: the county no longer must proactively mail the 1095-C to employees unless an employee requests it. Staff will report coverage to the IRS, and employees may request a printed copy. The county will send a reminder in December about the new process.