Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Harney County judge presents FY2025–26 budget with 3% COLA proposal, reserve goals and infrastructure priorities
Summary
County Judge Bill Hart delivered the proposed FY2025–26 Harney County budget on April 8, 2025, prioritizing a 3% across‑the‑board cost‑of‑living adjustment, a goal to grow operating reserves to three to six months of expenditures, continued planning for a new jail and courthouse needs, and flagged higher insurance, medical and liability costs.
Harney County Judge and budget officer Bill Hart delivered the proposed FY2025–26 budget to the Harney County Budget Committee on April 8, 2025. The fiscal year begins July 1, 2025, and the proposed spending plan balances anticipated revenues against rising costs while keeping a stated goal to grow operating reserves.
Hart said the budget was prepared “with the needs of the county and its employees in mind,” and proposed a 3% cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA) for all county employees and elected officials pending the elected officials’ compensation board decision. He told the committee he prepared a proposed budget with a 3% COLA to have a “starting point” for deliberations and noted the final pay lines could be adjusted after the compensation board’s recommendations.
The message highlighted a clean single minimal administrative finding in the county’s recent audit related to a mislabeled administration category. Hart said the county had no material weaknesses in internal control. He also described large upward cost pressures: a 15% rise in county liability insurance, a 9% increase in medical insurance, 8% for dental and 6% for vision. Hart said those increases and inflation forced operational restraint while still aiming to add to the general operating reserve.
Hart projected a general fund starting balance near $1 million but said that amount will be reduced by roughly $75,000 because of unpaid delinquent property taxes, newly designated exempt properties and a weak building economy. He said his goal remains to maintain a minimum of three and a maximum of six months of operating reserves.
The proposed budget preserves funding for core mandated services while continuing planning steps for capital priorities the committee discussed, including a new jail and court‑related facility needs. Hart said the county is working on multiple funding channels for those projects and will continue to submit requests to state programs and pursue other grant opportunities.
The Budget Committee subsequently conducted the public comment period and moved through agenda items that included department budgets, grant applications and several special funds.
Respectfully submitted, Bill Hart, Harney County Judge and Budget Officer.
The budget as presented is subject to the committee’s tentative approvals and later adjustments during the budget process and any supplemental budget actions that may be required.
