Belknap County staff reports midyear revenue surplus, nursing home performing ahead of budget

Shacket, a staff member, told the Belknap County Commissioners that the county is projecting a positive midyear revenue position, including a healthier-than-anticipated result at the county nursing home.

“The revenues are in good shape,” Shacket said, and later noted the nursing home is projecting a revenue surplus “exceeding the estimated revenues by $695,000.” Countywide, Shacket reported excess revenues of about $1,100,000 and said the general fund is projecting a surplus of roughly $300,000.

The presentation explained the nursing-home surplus was driven largely by a pro-share payment that came through this year. Shacket cautioned the pro-share calculation can change year to year and described the state’s adjustment process as complex: counties that under- or over-estimate can face later adjustments. “It’s very complicated,” Shacket said, adding that counties used to receive comparative spreadsheets showing all counties’ impacts but now receive only their own data.

Shacket reviewed department-level projections: corrections is showing lower-than-budgeted revenues and a net department shortfall of about $11,000 (with an expectation to receive roughly $51,000 versus a higher budgeted amount), while several departments — county attorney (surplus from a continuing vacancy), IT (surplus after using ARPA funds for a cybersecurity assessment), nursing administration (surplus), and nursing maintenance (surplus) — are generally in healthy positions. Dietary services at the nursing home is expected to go over budget; a new contractor begins Oct. 1 and staff said costs are expected to be about the same but service quality should improve.

Shacket said restorative-justice and sheriff’s office lines show no major concerns. He also reported a projected nursing-home net surplus of about $80,000 and said a change in resident mix has produced a deficit in physicians and pharmacy lines because of higher Medicare B–related services.

On fund balance, Shacket said the year-end fund balance could increase by about $1.5 million, creating a projected year-end balance near $5,100,000. He cautioned that some figures, such as the final bed tax amount for the nursing home and future pro-share adjustments, will not be firm until additional quarters are complete.

Staff noted some one-time capital items that increased costs relative to prior estimates: a body scanner’s price rose since quotes two years ago and the delta will be covered with opioid abatement funds, leaving the county with only a modest ($1,000) net exposure. Shacket also said that one IT project was covered by ARPA funds and that county leaders planned to spend those dollars in full on eligible projects rather than return them.

There were clarifying questions from other participants about where recordings and public access content are stored; Shacket said recordings are hosted on the county website and on YouTube and that the county pays a public-access TV provider for storage/archiving. Shacket also confirmed a grant for the county attorney’s office (victim-witness grant) arrives quarterly and is expected by year-end.

No motions or formal votes were taken on budget lines during the presentation. Commissioners asked follow-up questions but directed no formal action at the meeting; the presentation closed with staff saying the materials would be used in upcoming budget planning.

The presentation also included an operational-savings figure of about $380,000 in the current cycle, which staff described as a modest but meaningful cushion for potential unforeseen repairs or needs going forward. Shacket thanked department heads for staying within their budgets and said the county is preparing to resume capital-improvement requests previously funded with ARPA when those funds are no longer available.

The meeting segment was discussion only; staff provided projections, answered commissioner questions and described constraints and unknowns (state pro-share recalculations and the bed tax). No formal decisions or votes were recorded in the transcript excerpt provided.