Budget officer proposes retirement-share adjustment, staffing visibility steps as commissioners prepare 2024–25 budget

Julie, Fremont County’s budget officer, briefed commissioners on the county’s budget book, retirement contribution options and a set of vacant positions that could be removed from payroll to reduce next year’s budget burden.

Julie told commissioners the county has historically paid 66% of law-enforcement retirement costs while employees paid 34%. She said actuarial changes will modestly increase the employee share and the county share under the recommended approach: the employee portion would move from about 6.5% to roughly 7.07% and the county’s portion from about 12.5% to about 13.73%, according to figures in the packet. Julie estimated the change she recommended would cost the county roughly $50,000 for the coming year.

Julie urged departments to begin budget preparation using current-year budgets as a baseline, to document line-item changes in budget messages and to review revenues and potential fees. She asked commissioners to confirm a wage/hiring freeze remains in effect and said departments should justify retained positions in their budget materials.

On staffing, Julie provided a list of vacant positions departments had offered to eliminate and said removing the listed vacancies would free budgeted dollars; she recommended an option to leave those positions on the roster with $0 budgeted value so the county does not carry significant reserved payroll dollars while preserving the positions on paper. Commissioners asked for clarity on mechanics and visibility of any future fills; staff said the replacement process could include requiring budget adjustments and monthly reports so the board maintains oversight.

Julie also raised social-services and miscellaneous program funding. She said the social-services line requires direction from the board and reported she was prepared to send a notice that “social services are not going to be funded this year,” subject to board confirmation. At the meeting several commissioners signaled support for moving forward with limited or no county funding this year and asked staff to proceed with messaging to applicants.

Other budget items: Julie said the new budget book and uploaded biennial actuals are nearly ready but awaiting technical fixes; she reminded departments that completed budgets will be due by the end of the month. Jim (insurance committee) said health insurance rates look likely to require only a small increase (roughly 1%–1.5% was discussed), and the executive health committee planned to finalize a recommendation by the next meeting. Julie said the county’s capital revolving fund remains available but the fund’s purchasing power is eroded by older lease-interest assumptions and recommended the capital committee meet to review fund balance and inflows.

On implementation steps, commissioners directed staff to: (1) proceed with the recommended retirement-share approach for budget modeling; (2) circulate proposed messaging to departments and to social-services applicants (chairman to review); and (3) meet with sheriff’s office and other departments to develop a plan that preserves oversight while reducing budgeted but unspent payroll balances. Commissioners agreed to consider a zero-dollar placeholder approach for vacancies if it preserves transparency while freeing funds for other uses.