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Commissioners outline 2026 budget pressures, flag EMS, pictometry and legal-cost increases
Summary
County staff presented budget line changes including a 6% workers' comp and liability increase, a pictometry imagery upgrade, ongoing EMS contract costs and a maintained $25,000 litigation reserve; commissioners debated moving funds into an EMS lid while warning of a possible $900,000 property-tax revenue loss next year.
County staff reviewed key changes in the commissioners’ proposed 2026 county budget, citing increases in insurance, technology and public-safety costs and noting one-time and recurring items that will affect the bottom line.
The county administrator said workers' compensation and liability insurance line items were increased by 6% to reflect trending estimates. The assessor's office will pay more for pictometry, the county aerial imagery program: a higher-resolution one-inch imagery flight every three years raised the expected cost by roughly $20,000, staff said. "It literally makes it easier for the assessor's office...because they can actually read the street signs," a staff presenter said.
Public-safety costs also drove discussion. The county is in the final year of a three-year Harrison EMS contract that had annual 7% increases; commissioners noted they will need to renegotiate or revisit that level after the contract expires. Commissioners and staff also discussed moving recovered or reserved funds into the EMS levy (EMS lid) to support staffing and a recently approved life-squad contract.
On legal costs, staff recommended holding a $25,000 reserve for lawsuits and settlements, as long delays can produce bills years after incidents occur. Commissioners agreed the $25,000 figure had historically been adequate for cash‑flow needs, though they noted the account typically “rolls back over” if unused.
Other budget items highlighted: continued funding for EMT training (placeholders set for multi‑year training costs, including paramedic classes), and a new equipment/IT maintenance line for expected computer purchases and vehicle repairs. Staff warned the courthouse fire/ alarm monitoring system is aging and could require a major replacement; an initial budgetary estimate discussed for a full replacement was roughly $225,000 pending vendor quotes.
Why it matters: The commissioners’ budget choices determine local tax levies, service levels for emergency medical services and capital maintenance for county buildings. Commissioners said they must weigh these requests against uncertain revenue projections tied to recent state property-tax changes.
Next steps: Staff will continue to refine cost estimates and present revenue forecasts; commissioners indicated some reallocations (for example to the EMS levy) could be done within the budget process but said final decisions depend on updated revenue numbers.
