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County finance director: general fund running $5 million deficit through June; property-tax receipts due in fall
Summary
The county’s monthly financial overview showed a midyear gap of about $5.0 million in the general fund through June and forecasting additional property-tax receipts in October. Officials flagged a large solid-waste post-closure accounting entry and said sales-tax receipts are down modestly year to date.
Kathy Funk Baxter, the county finance director, reported to the Board of Commissioners that the county’s general fund had about $29 million in revenue and $35 million in expenses through June, producing a roughly $5.1 million year-to-date shortfall. Baxter said a typical second-half property tax inflow will partially offset the gap: the county expects about $9 million more property-tax receipts through the fall.
Why it matters: the midyear deficit is partly timing related, but commissioners were briefed on structural revenue trends (slow growth in core revenues) and large one-time accounting entries that affect other funds.
Key points: - General fund: $29 million revenue, $35 million expenses through June; expected additional property-tax receipts of roughly $9 million before year end. - County roads: revenue and expenditures are seasonal; the fund showed a current surplus that will decrease as summer projects are billed. County roads budget includes a large chip-seal program and capital projects; staff said the department started chip sealing earlier this year and that materials and contractor timing affect supplies and capital lines. - Solid waste: revenue showed about $10.8 million vs. $21 million in expenses partly because the fund recorded a one-time post-closure and equipment reserve entry of about $11.5 million. Without that accounting entry, the fund’s deficit would be much smaller. - Sales tax: year-to-date sales-tax collections were down roughly $95,000 compared with the prior year, with staff reporting a month-to-month decline of about 5% since January; finance staff said summer receipts and December typically improve annual totals. - ARPA and capital: staff noted that earlier budget assumptions included several ARPA-funded projects. The county will adjust capital budgets and move projects into 2026 where appropriate; staff reminded the board that ARPA project deadlines remain in 2026.
Action items and clarifications: - Staff will propose third-quarter budget amendments to “true up” transfers and to account for transition of state grant activity into local funds. - The finance director and department heads will refine capital and supplies budgets for county roads and solid waste in upcoming amendments.
Discussion vs. decision: the presentation was informational; commissioners asked questions and directed staff to return with updated amendment language and project timelines where appropriate.
