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Commissioners agree to revisit county payroll increases; staff to reallocate departmental lines to cover raises
Summary
After commissioners found that earlier approved raises exceeded the originally budgeted amount, staff and the county's budget consultant recommended moving departmental line items into the general fund to cover the difference and returning next week with department heads to finalize adjustments.
Commissioners discussed how to cover a shortfall in the payroll increases previously approved for county employees and directed staff to return with detail from department heads.
What was discussed: The county had previously approved $300,000 for raises, but final calculations showed the actual figure for proposed raises was larger. Commissioner discussion and the county’s budget consultant, Scott Lloyd, advised that departments should absorb the necessary adjustments by moving existing departmental line items (for example, rock/materials in Road & Bridge) into a designated general line to fund payroll increases for this year.
Action and next steps: Commissioners agreed to schedule a budget discussion with all department heads at next week’s meeting so departments can identify line items to be transferred. Staff will create a general line for each department so the raise funds remain within department budgets while being managed through the general fund to ensure payroll coverage.
Direct quotes (attributed): "The departments will find that money in their departments alone. ... Each department will need to do this," the commissioner overseeing county finance said, summarizing the consultant's guidance.
Context and constraints: The approach discussed is an internal budget maneuver recommended by the county’s consultant; it is procedural and requires departments to identify permissive line items to move. Commissioners asked that department heads have the necessary information ready for the next scheduled meeting to finalize reallocations.
No final vote: The commission did not adopt a formal ordinance or finalize the reallocation at this meeting; staff were directed to return with department‑level detail and a dedicated agenda item for the next meeting.
