Lake County supervisors approve midyear budget and position-allocation adjustments

The Lake County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 12 approved two resolutions to amend the county’s fiscal year 2024–25 adopted budget and to revise position allocations.

Deputy County Administrative Officer for Finance and Budget Casey Marnow presented the midyear package, which staff described as largely composed of minor adjustments but including several notable appropriations and one-time revenue acceptances. Among the changes, staff asked the board to accept a $125,000 MIT rip grant for design and construction of an OES culvert and to budget $2,500,000 from a county bond for an armory remodel for this fiscal year in addition to amounts already budgeted. Marnow said the bond closing is scheduled for tomorrow and that the county is budgeting $2.5 million for this fiscal year in addition to previously budgeted amounts.

The Watershed Protection District would accept $981,407 from a MITRIC grant to support a sonic water-quality buoy project, staff said. The Board of Supervisors requested an additional $53,500 in general fund appropriations to cover increased salary and benefit costs. The auditor’s budget was increased by $1,000,000 for the enterprise resource planning (ERP) Workday conversion. The treasurer-tax collector would transfer $5,000 for a RevQ upgrade to the county’s court and county collection system. Social services administration would receive transfers of $200,000 for NCO childcare and $189,880 for a transient adolescent youth program. The Air Quality Management District would transfer $25,000 for hiring-bonus implementation.

Marnow also said the midyear included multiple position-allocation changes across county departments, including the assessor, public works engineering and inspection, public defender, probation, planning, health services administration, mental health, and alcohol and other drugs programs. Specifically, the public defender’s authorized positions would increase from 16 to 19; staff said current salary savings from unfilled positions permit that change now, and that future adjustments could involve transfers from professional services and contracts if the positions are filled permanently.

Supervisors discussed several items during the review. Supervisor Pysco asked that the board revisit the practice of tying Board of Supervisors’ salaries to the state judge salary and consider aligning future increases more closely with staff raises or setting a cap; the board signaled consensus to return the topic for further discussion. Supervisor Pysco also raised concern about uncertainty in federal funding that could affect public health, social services and behavioral health programs and urged earlier strategic planning to prepare for possible cuts. Supervisors and staff noted a recent parity review between the public defender’s office and the district attorney’s office but did not identify further adjustments in this midyear item beyond the position change.

The board took separate roll-call votes to adopt the two resolutions. For resolution amending FY 2024–25 adopted budget (Resolution No. 2024-99), the minutes record the aye votes of Supervisors Owen, Spautee, Rasmussen, Pysco and Crandall. For the resolution amending position allocations for FY 2024–25 (Resolution No. 2024-100), the minutes record the aye votes of Supervisors Owen, Sabatier, Rasmussen, Paiske and Crandall. Both resolutions passed.

Members of the public were invited to comment; none were recorded on the budget item. The board directed staff to return with a follow-up discussion on Board compensation, and staff closed the midyear presentation after the votes.