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Okeechobee County pre-budget workshop: commissioners ask staff to model 2.6% and 3% COLA scenarios; health and insurance costs rise
Summary
County finance staff presented a pre-budget overview for FY2025–26, including revenue forecasts, reserves, health‑insurance and property/casualty cost pressures, and capital equipment requests. Commissioners asked staff to prepare budget options for a 2.6% and a 3% cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA) plus up to a 2% merit pool.
County administrative and budget staff briefed the Board of County Commissioners on fiscal year 2025–26 budget development, highlighting revenue forecasts, reserve balances, insurance cost pressures and departmental capital requests.
Key figures presented: staff reported a total available balance (pre‑audit) of about $43.4 million, of which $34.3 million was unrestricted and $9.1 million restricted/committed. Health insurance for fully insured staff, the board and constitutional officers is projected at roughly $2.4 million for FY26; staff clinic costs were estimated at about $312,772. Property and casualty insurance was projected to rise (staff used a 15% projection for property increases and a 30% projection for…
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