County auditor: payroll vacancy savings average about $4.4 million annually

Clay County Auditor Victor Herbert presented an audit to the commission showing the county’s personnel‑related savings — the difference between budgeted payroll (including benefits) and actual payroll — averaged about $4.4 million per year over the past five years.

Herbert said the $4.4 million figure includes benefits such as employer FICA contributions, pension costs, health insurance and workers' compensation. When looking only at wages (salaries without benefits), the average unspent amount fell to about $2.23 million per year. Herbert said roughly 80 to 90 positions have been vacant at various times over recent years; about 20 to 30 of those are part‑time roles, so full‑time equivalent vacancies are fewer.

The auditor said the top departmental contributors to vacancy savings over five years were the prosecutor's office, the assessor's office and the road and bridge department, and that about half of the total vacancy‑savings amount originates in the general fund (roughly $2 million per year). Herbert cautioned that some funds are restricted (for example, assessment and road funds) and cannot be repurposed without reducing transfers or changing fund structure.

Commissioners and the county administrator discussed next steps. Commissioner Wagner said the commission can choose whether to reallocate those savings to priorities or keep positions open; several commissioners tied the analysis to an ongoing classification and compensation study and to new financial systems that give better departmental expenditure visibility.

No formal action was taken; the auditor provided the analysis as information for future budget and compensation discussions.