Douglas County adopts FY2025‑26 budget after debate over over‑target requests; vote 5‑1

The Douglas County Board of Commissioners held a required public hearing July 29 and then adopted the fiscal year 2025‑26 county budget following debate over department over‑target requests and public review procedures.

Laurie Persch, the county budget and finance director, presented the proposed budget and supporting figures. Persch said the proposed total budget is $636,568,016 (or $584,372,850 excluding remaining ARPA funds). The proposal assumes no change to the current property‑tax levy and a projected 5.8% increase in assessed property values, net of anticipated Board of Equalization protests. Persch told commissioners that lower expected interest income (anticipated federal rate cuts) reduced general‑fund revenues and contributed to a small revenue shortfall before accounting for departments’ requests above target.

Persch summarized recommended adjustments from the finance committee after departments that exceeded internal targets presented justification earlier in May and June. She said the total over‑target requests amounted to roughly $7.2 million; the finance committee recommended granting about $2.0 million of those requests and that the remaining shortfall for the year would be covered by using approximately $3.2 million from general‑fund reserves to balance the budget.

Persch identified some recommended over‑target allocations by department: the sheriff’s office originally requested $730,000 and the finance committee recommended $252,152; the public defender requested about $255,000 and was recommended for $160,000; corrections requested $2.2 million and received $714,000 in the recommendation; emergency management requested $403,000 and was recommended for $135,000; district court requested funding tied to two new judges and capital costs and was recommended $541,000; community general assistance requested $288,000 (direct assistance) and was recommended $100,000.

Commissioner Kavanaugh moved to delay final action on the budget for three weeks to allow additional public review and more time for commissioners to ask departments questions; the motion failed for lack of a second. Kavanaugh spoke at length about public notice and the time available to review the materials, saying the public and some commissioners had limited time to review the documents provided to the board.

Several members of the public and representatives of organizations spoke during the hearing. Tamika Meese, executive director of North Omaha Community Partnership, urged that funds allocated for sheriff’s‑office community‑engagement positions be used for the community programs described and requested accountability to prevent reallocation. Doug Kagan of Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom criticized the timing of published backup materials and urged additional scrutiny of discretionary spending. Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hansen described rising operational demands and said the sheriff’s office would face challenges meeting statutory obligations and court demands with limited increases.

After discussion, Commissioner Rogers moved to adopt the budget; Commissioner Morgan seconded. The board adopted the FY2025‑26 budget by a 5–1 roll‑call vote: Commissioners Borgeson, Kavanaugh, Friend, Morgan and Rogers voted yes; Commissioner Cavanaugh voted no. Following the vote the board recessed and reconvened and then adjourned; the adjournment motion passed 6–0.

The finance director’s presentation and the meeting record show the board is relying on the finance committee’s recommendations and the use of reserves to balance the coming year. Commissioners said they will consider process changes for future budget cycles, including the possibility of a budget retreat or additional public engagement, and OPPD and other partners will follow up on technical questions raised during the meeting.

Action: the board formally adopted the fiscal‑year 2025‑26 county budget as presented; the record shows the board plans follow‑up on process improvements and technical questions raised during the hearing.