Scott County projects small favorable year-end budget variance; board approves 10 consent items

A county finance staff member told the Scott County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 5 that, based on second-quarter results, the county is projecting "a small favorable variance at the end of the year of $175,000." The board received the report and approved a 10-item consent agenda that included intergovernmental agreements, licenses and appointments.

The financial update, presented to the board as the quarter closed, listed three large variances the county is watching. The health and human services department was showing an unfavorable revenue variance of about $1,000,000 related to MnCHOICES revenue; finance staff said HHS is pursuing cost reductions and vacancy savings to try to bring expenditures close to budget. Countywide investment earnings produced a projected $750,000 favorable variance, and planning and resource management is projecting about $500,000 favorable, partly related to environmental services and a designation to set aside…