Chair Mike Kelly proposed that remaining budget capacity created by revised assessed valuation numbers be used to fund three undersupported items in the FY2026 revisit list: nutrition assistance, utility assistance and a separate food-pantry request.

Robin Simes of the budget department told the board revised assessed valuation numbers were likely to be released “today or Monday” and that, based on conservative appeals assumptions, those revisions could free up a few hundred thousand dollars to help maintain a flat mill levy. Kelly’s proposed approach asked staff to apply any additional funding to cover the remaining requests; if there was not enough to fund them completely, the funds should be allocated proportionally as 50% to nutrition assistance, 40% to utility assistance and 10% to the food pantry.

Commissioners clarified that partial funding already exists for some items: one commissioner noted $100,000 and $150,000 had already been funded toward utility and nutrition assistance, and that the food-pantry request of $25,000 remained unfunded. The board voted on Kelly’s motion by roll call; the motion passed 6–1 with Commissioner Ashcraft voting no. Kelly said any adjustments required if valuations fell short would be handled with the county manager to preserve a flat mill levy and under the county’s financial policies.

The motion did not immediately appropriate new dollars; it directed budget staff to apply revised assessed-valuation proceeds to those specific human-services items in the prioritized percentages and to report back if adjustments were necessary to maintain policy thresholds.