Commissioners approve projected final budget updates and a $4 million transfer to water and sewer funds

Storey County commissioners on May 6 reviewed and approved projected final budgets for fiscal 2025–26 and authorized a one‑time $2 million transfer into each of the Water Fund and the Sewer Fund from the county general fund, subject to final approval at the May 20 meeting.

Comptroller Jennifer McCain presented the projected final budget. She said revenues were essentially unchanged from the tentative budget while total expenditures rose about 5 percent, driven primarily by salary and benefit increases. McCain recommended moving $4 million from the general fund into the water and sewer funds to provide liquidity for small‑to‑medium capital repairs and to avoid drawing down infrastructure reserves.

For the Water Fund, projected revenue is about $803,000 with expenses near $927,000; the fund was shown with an ending balance of about $1.6 million before the proposed transfer. The Sewer Fund's projected revenue is about $539,000 with expenses at $778,000 and a projected ending balance of about $1.0 million before any transfers. McCain said the transfers would give each fund an immediate capital cushion to pay for items such as filter recoats at the treatment plant, diffusers, replacement VFDs and pumps, and an "AugerMonster" piece of sewer equipment; she estimated many of the small‑to‑medium repairs could cost between $100,000 and $500,000.

The board approved a motion to accept the projected final budgets with the $2 million transfers into each fund; the commission also noted the water and sewer funds are engaged in AFSCME negotiations and that labor‑cost outcomes could affect final numbers.

Separately, Clerk‑Treasurer Jim Hindle reported progress on property‑tax delinquencies: the county sent 360 delinquent notices and will publish only 74 names in the newspaper per NRS requirements, reflecting successful collections. Hindle also described a new overnight sweep on county checking balances that has yielded about 4.3% annualized return on short‑term swept balances since late April.

Why it matters: Several critical water and sewer assets are aging, and the county wants to ensure repairs and capital maintenance do not cause unexpected rate shocks to customers. The transfers are subject to final adoption with signatures for the Nevada Department of Taxation filing window.

Next steps: The commission will finalize and sign the budgets at the May 20 meeting and execute any required transfers under county appropriation rules.