Sheridan County commissioners voted Tuesday to return the Sheridan County Public Library request to its original budget with an 8% reduction and to give county employees a 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment for fiscal year 2025-26, while rejecting a separate motion to suspend the county Commissioners' state association dues for one year.

The actions came during a special meeting called to resolve remaining changes to the proposed 2025-26 county budget. The board sought to close a reported general-fund shortfall and to finalize staffing requests that county officials said remained in the draft budget.

The meeting opened with the board chair noting a shortfall of about $311,887 and asking staff to confirm which positions were included in that figure. Paul Fall, County Assessor, said his office had restructured payroll and removed a deputy position to help absorb staffing costs. County staff (identified in the meeting as Cameron, Deb and Kim) confirmed that the draft budget still included three positions referenced by departments: two controller positions and a courthouse deputy in the sheriff's office, and one library position was part of the figures discussed.

On the library request, commissioners moved to revert the Sheridan County Public Library's budget to the initial proposal with the 8% reduction. County staff stated the library's original request was $1,605,009.33; after the 8% reduction the amount was reported as $1,369,000 (rounded). The motion passed on a voice vote; the meeting record gave no roll-call tally for that motion.

Commissioners then debated a proposal to suspend the county Commissioners Association membership (referred to in the meeting as WCCA). Supporters described the association as providing training, budgeting materials and statewide coordination; one commissioner argued statutory duties and statewide representation made the membership important. Opponents argued the county should "lead by example" with cuts. After discussion and a voice vote, the motion to suspend membership failed.

The board then considered a proposal to add one step equal to a 2.5% pay increase (described in the meeting as a cost-of-living adjustment) for county employees. Commissioners approved that increase. The meeting record notes the motion passed with "Commissioner Arzay and Commissioner Jennings voting against it," which implies a 3-2 recorded outcome on the motion. The county finance staff said new, unanticipated revenue arriving that morning (reported as roughly $500,000 in PILT) and approximately $400,000 available in GPET funds could help cover the step increase and reduce the projected general-fund shortfall.

Sheridan County Sheriff Levi Dominguez spoke to clarify staffing in the sheriff's office; he confirmed the three positions discussed included two controller positions and a courthouse deputy. County finance staff later reported the county would still show a negative balance of $394,009.54 in the draft if certain adjustments were made, and that using cash reserves would reduce general-fund equity from about $4.7 million to about $4.3 million.

Quotes from the meeting included the board chair saying, "I'm tired of talking about it," while urging a final decision. Paul Fall, County Assessor, summarized changes to his office payroll and said the revamp "almost funds 2 positions" after eliminating a deputy post. Sheriff Levi Dominguez confirmed that the budget figures included three sheriff's-office positions.

Votes at a glance: the library budget motion to return the library to its initial request with an 8% reduction passed (voice vote; roll-call not specified); the motion to suspend WCCA membership for a year failed (voice vote; roll-call not specified); the motion to add a 2.5% cost-of-living increase for employees passed, recorded as passing with Commissioners Arzay and Jennings voting against it (meeting record).

The meeting adjourned at 9:18 a.m.