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County manager outlines EV transition plan, FY26 budget guidance and staffing searches
Summary
Anne, the county manager, reported that the county council awarded a contractor for an EV transition plan and endorsed FY26 budget guidance while warning recent GRT gains were largely one-time.
Anne, the county manager, reported that the county council on Jan. 7 awarded a contractor to produce an electric-vehicle transition plan covering both the county fleet and community infrastructure, saying the project has “about $400,000 total budget, including some contingencies.”
The manager told the board councilors also endorsed fiscal year 2026 budget guidance on Jan. 14 that generally keeps the county within the parameters of the biennial budget adopted last year. “The short story is... staying within parameters that we had proposed last year in our biennial budget, and it's about a 3% for general operations for the general fund. It's a 3% structure for salaries with a 2% plus a 2% merit and potential 1% other special circumstances,” Anne said.
She cautioned that a recent rise in gross receipts tax (GRT) revenue was tied to one-time spending and not to ongoing baseline revenues, and that the county’s 10-year projections assume a lower baseline than the very recent peak. “We did see increased, higher revenues in GRT this last year, but they are... tied to 1 time spending, not recurring baseline operations,” she said. She added the county may revisit a previously modeled quarter-cent GRT increase and is “potentially looking at a half cent” given the lower baseline outlook.
The manager said the one-time revenues received this year should carry the county through the next fiscal year but warned that “we are gonna be very judicious... about things like FTEs or new programs” and that the county will prioritize finishing existing projects amid continuing inflation on construction and other work.
On staffing, Anne said the county is recruiting for a public works director following Juan Raya’s promotion to deputy county manager, and that applications have been received and interviews are planned before the end of the month. The county has also received applicants for community development director and expects first interviews by month-end.
She noted planned lobbying in Washington, D.C., in early March to press the county’s federal priorities, and recommended the county invite Jerry Smith and a broadband contractor to a future meeting to review anticipated broadband schedules and financing. The manager said the county may issue bonds in phases to align with construction schedules, because issuing bonds begins a multiyear spending clock.
The manager closed by inviting questions from the board.
