Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Treasurer outlines 2026 budget priorities, including 4% wage increase and software costs
Summary
The county treasurer reported a proposed 4% cost-of-living adjustment for staff, a 10% insurance estimate, and modest increases in professional services, mailing fees and equipment maintenance tied to a pending software rollout.
Carol, the county treasurer, told the board she included a 4% wage increase in her 2026 budget request and budgeted a 10% rise for health and dental insurance. She also said she expects a new software system to be delivered within roughly a year and increased professional services and mailing-fee lines to reflect higher costs.
"I'm budgeting a 4% cost of living," Carol said. She added that she had asked her first deputy to consider postponing retirement to maintain continuity while the new software is implemented.
Why it matters: The treasurer’s budget touches tax billing, motor vehicle services and records; changes in software and staffing affect service delivery and costs countywide.
Details: Carol said she raised treasury supplies to reflect the new system’s additional paperwork, adjusted repairs and maintenance to cover aging folding equipment used for bills and notices, and increased travel and conference fees to cover rising admission charges. She also noted off-site storage costs for computer backups and modest changes in other expense lines.
Next steps: Commissioners asked county finance staff to prepare end-of-year reconciliation spreadsheets to compare budgeted versus actual spending to help refine future budgeting assumptions.
