Douglas County discusses FY26 supplemental requests, $3M adjusted opening fund balance and possible purchase of new voting equipment

Douglas County officials presented an update on fiscal year 2026 budget preparation, seeking direction from the Board of Commissioners on supplemental requests, capital improvement projects (CIP) and use of an adjusted opening fund balance estimated at just over $3,000,000.

County Chief Operating Officer Cathy Lewis summarized supplemental requests across general, special revenue, enterprise and capital project funds and asked the board how it wanted staff to build those items into the final proposed budget. Lewis noted that departments have also identified alternative funding sources and that some supplemental items might be funded as one‑time expenditures rather than ongoing FTE increases.

County Manager Jennifer Davidson framed the opening fund balance as savings carried forward from the prior fiscal year, not surplus from higher‑than‑expected revenue: "This is savings from a fiscal year budget ago," she said, explaining that the unallocated balance resulted from departments underspending during a year when revenue underperformed. "I do not expect that we will be able to have this level of ongoing savings in the county." Davidson advised the board to consider setting aside funds for stabilization and…