Sheridan County held a public hearing July 21 on its proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget as residents raised concerns about an estimated $1.37 million shortfall and urged the Board of Commissioners to plan for future property-tax volatility. The hearing opened at 5:03 p.m. and closed at 5:14 p.m.

Ida Chung Thompson, Sheridan County budget officer, presented the draft resolution before the board and told the meeting that publication of the hearing notice in the Sheridan Press on July 14 satisfied a statutory requirement. She said the board acknowledged receipt of the requested budget on April 21, 2025, and that the draft may be amended up until formal adoption, which the board is scheduled to consider at its next meeting.

The hearing drew brief public comment. Charles Cole, a Sheridan County resident, urged the commissioners to run multi-year “what if” scenarios to plan for continued changes in property-tax revenue, saying, “I would just urge you to do that for the next couple of 3 years and not just focus on this 1.”

John Wilcox, a resident, told the board he read press coverage and said he believed the county faces a shortfall of about $1,370,000. “We’re gonna be about 1,370,000.00 short, right? Is that about right?” he asked. Wilcox urged across-the-board cuts if needed and said he expected core services to be preserved before funding outside organizations.

James Temple, chairman of the Sheridan County GOP, criticized existing allocations to nonprofit organizations and said his group will review county boards and “follow the money trail.” He said the GOP will investigate relationships between board members and nonprofit funding decisions.

Several commissioners and members of staff responded to questions about revenue and rising costs. One commissioner noted long-term price increases for county equipment, saying, “The first year I was on the board, we bought a brand new road grader, and it was a $110,000. This year, we bought a new road grader, and it was $300,000.” Commissioner Nick (last name not recorded) said he reviewed department expenditure changes over five to seven years and found a wide range of change — from a decline of about 1.56% in a few departments to increases as high as 400% in others — and that reserves had also grown in recent years.

Thompson also told the board that a potential grant increase of $65,000 in both revenues and expenses remained undecided and that the proposed budget presented that evening was the version adopted at an earlier budget meeting, with any changes to be considered before final adoption.

No vote to adopt the budget occurred at the hearing; the session was strictly a public hearing required by statute to receive comment before the board considers final adoption. The board closed the public hearing at 5:14 p.m. and will take up formal consideration of the proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget at its next scheduled meeting.

Public commenters and commissioners emphasized planning for continued property-tax uncertainty, possible across-the-board reductions if the shortfall is confirmed, and scrutiny of nonprofit funding allocations as next steps in the county’s budget process.