Linn County preliminarily approves $3.25 million facilities budget; officials flag aging buildings and staffing offers

The Linn County Board of Supervisors gave preliminary approval on Jan. 10 to the county’s Facilities budget for fiscal year 2026, approving total appropriations of $3,246,689.

Facilities Director Luke Fisher and Finance Director Don Gingerich briefed the board on a budget that is roughly level with FY25, with a net decrease of about $2,018 from the prior year after accounting for contractual wage increases and vacancy savings. Fisher said the largest expected change is the Fillmore Building being unoccupied, which will reduce certain ongoing service needs, utilities and staffing there.

Gingerich summarized contract and overtime increases offset by vacancy savings and an increased engineering chargeback tied to wage adjustments. Fisher said engineering chargebacks and other facility chargebacks (totaling about $395,000) are largely unchanged besides the engineering increase.

Staff described two budget offers: (1) funding the remaining 50% of an administrative assistant I position (the budget includes a credit that covers half this cost now, with the county planning for FY27 funding changes), and (2) two full-time facilities-worker positions intended primarily for second-shift preventive maintenance. The two-worker offer was estimated at about $192,000 and includes salaries, benefits and soft costs; Fisher said the county could fund one position at half that cost if desired.

Fisher explained the county’s focus on preventive maintenance to extend the life of aging equipment—boilers, chillers and air handlers—across multiple buildings renovated or built around the same time. He said the county’s goal is to shift toward planned maintenance, targeting a 50/50 split between planned and reactive work orders, and noted custodial-quality checks are included as a KPI. Fisher said custodial KPI data for FY24 were lost during a work-order system conversion.

Board members asked for clarification about staffing, square footage per employee and the effects of long-term maintenance needs. Fisher and staff said vacancies and aging infrastructure make preventive maintenance and additional second-shift labor important to avoid expensive emergency vendor call-ins and extend asset life.

A motion to "preliminarily approve fiscal year 26 total appropriations of $3,246,689" was made and seconded; the board approved the motion by voice vote. The meeting record does not list a roll-call tally.

Next steps include final budget adoption in the county process and continuing recruitment for a vacant custodial position. Fisher said the county will continue to monitor capital-improvement planning and preventive-maintenance needs for legacy and post-flood buildings.