Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Fy26 Budget Cip Supplementals topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Douglas County discusses FY26 supplemental requests, $3M adjusted opening fund balance and possible purchase of new voting equipment
Summary
County staff presented updates to the FY26 budget, including supplemental requests, a five‑year capital improvement plan, and discussion of using an adjusted opening fund balance (about $3 million) for one‑time purchases such as new election equipment; no formal budget action was taken at the meeting.
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 contingencies as part of the allocation discussion.
A recurring discussion focused on potential replacement of the county's voting equipment. The Clerk‑Treasurer's office briefed the board on equipment that would print a voter‑verified paper ballot and remove QR codes from the current VVPAT (voter‑verified paper audit trail), which staff said may be required by forthcoming federal regulation. The estimated one‑time cost discussed for new election equipment was described as a substantial one‑time purchase (about $187,000 cited during the discussion). Clerk‑Treasurer Amy Bergens said the office would pursue any available state funding but did not expect full statewide reimbursement. Staff recommended using the adjusted opening fund balance to cover one‑time purchases if the board directs that approach; any project-level purchase would return to the board for approval before contracting.
Other supplemental requests and CIP items discussed included: - Sheriff’s Office: equipment and control‑board replacement requests that staff recommended holding while the sheriff further evaluates options. - Community Development: a $3,000 travel request tied to permitting software implementation; a housing needs assessment was discussed and commissioners expressed interest in funding it as a one‑time request from the adjusted opening fund balance. - Enterprise funds: airport staffing reclassification, airport master plan updates, water fund vehicle/equipment requests and an East Side airport bathroom project (the latter was noted as missing from initial materials and is currently unfunded). - Mueller Parkway: County Manager Jennifer Davidson confirmed project account cash on hand, noting approximately $15,600,000 had been set aside for the project account in prior budgets and was included in project calculations. - Stormwater projects: these are listed in the CIP but will be brought forward for budget inclusion only when grant awards are secured.
Finance staff (Jenny Cartwright) corrected two items in the backup materials: one airport lighting project is an FY2027 item (not FY2026) and an East Side bathroom project had been omitted from the published list but remains on the airport’s radar and is unfunded.
Lewis emphasized that including projects in the CIP does not by itself authorize expenditure: "She will still need to come forward with the actual project to get it approved before those expenditures happen," Lewis said regarding the Clerk‑Treasurer and election equipment. The board signaled broad direction rather than taking formal action at the meeting; staff said the FY26 budget adoption is scheduled for May 27 and must be adopted and submitted by June 2.
Other budget items noted by staff included an anticipated shortfall of $300,000–$400,000 in room‑tax revenue and ongoing negotiations with deputy and sergeant bargaining units that could affect final cost projections. Staff also reported a legislative funding win: state funding approved at the legislature for the China Spring DCFS request, which staff said will be reflected in the final budget materials.
Commissioners asked for additional detail on the adjusted opening fund balance and directed staff to include slides and a recommended approach in the next meeting; several commissioners expressed support for using one‑time fund balance dollars for one‑time items such as the housing needs assessment and election equipment if the board approves the funding allocation at the next action meeting.
No formal budget appropriation was adopted at this session; the board provided staff direction and will consider formal actions during the scheduled budget adoption meeting and any subsequent project approvals.
