Board’s commissioner budget shows small travel reduction; commissioners asked to coordinate conference attendance

Deputy County Administrator Jan Luckey presented the Washington County commissioners’ recommended 2026 budget on Aug. 19, highlighting that regular pay was adjusted to match comparable employee increases, travel expenditures were slightly reduced to align with prior actuals and rent and technology allocations rose modestly.

Luckey told the board that the commissioners’ salary is set at a November workshop and that no action on salaries was requested that day. The travel‑line reduction reflects an attempt to better match historical spending, not a policy change, she said.

During discussion, commissioners raised questions about equity in travel opportunities among board members. One commissioner asked whether there is a policy limiting travel amounts; Luckey and county administration staff said there is not a per‑commissioner travel entitlement and that travel requests have been accommodated historically. County administration noted an existing travel‑reimbursement policy requiring that out‑of‑state travel be reported at a board meeting and that out‑of‑budget travel requires additional board action if it would exceed the budget.

Board members and administration discussed an informal approach for sharing conference attendance so that representation across national and regional forums rotates among commissioners. Luckey said staff can support coordination of conference attendance and provide the board with the travel‑reimbursement policy language for reference.

The presentation concluded with acknowledgements to the administration staff who helped prepare the commissioners’ budget. The recommended figures will be considered as part of the county’s broader 2026 budget process.