Lawrence County adopts 2025 budget, sets health-pay contributions, appoints tax-claim director and OKs energy and radio contracts

The Lawrence County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday adopted the county’s 2025 budget, approved staff health-insurance contribution levels, appointed a new tax-claim director and approved contracts for electricity supply and radio-systems maintenance.

The budget, adopted by resolution 385, was introduced Dec. 10 and placed on public display for 21 days as required by state law; commissioners said the measure is balanced and includes no change to the county’s real-estate tax. County Administrator Joe Venasco was credited by the board for leading the budget process with department heads and the comptroller’s office.

The board also passed resolution 386 to set maximum employee contributions toward health-insurance premiums at 6 percent of the policy premium for nonunion management and county-compensated elected officials; union employees remain subject to the terms of their negotiated contracts.

On personnel, the commissioners approved…