County department budget presentations highlight imagery contract, building repairs and small operating increases

DeKalb County department heads presented 2026 budget requests to the council on July 10, largely following the council’s guidance to limit increases but identifying several targeted needs.

Planning and GIS asked the council to consider a multi‑year contract with EagleView for aerial imagery and LiDAR contours. The presentation noted the county’s beacon GIS is used daily by the assessor, recorder, surveyors, engineers and the public; EagleView’s oblique imagery and three‑year contour cycles are used widely by local practitioners. The GIS request identified a $56,407 annual cost for aerial (2026–2031 if contracted) and a one‑time $113,222 cost for contour/LiDAR data. The department recommended budgeting to maintain imagery on a reliable schedule rather than relying on state flights, which the presenter called less predictable.

Commissioner Bill Hartman said the commissioners increased the county buildings improvements line to $200,000 and planned to place project administration under facilities staff. Hartman also described reallocations away from a humane-shelter contract that the county judged not being fulfilled; some of those funds were moved to animal-control programs, including trap‑neuter‑release (TNR) and a large‑animal (horse) rescue contingency.

Other departmental highlights included: • Soil and Water: a modest 4% operating increase and a separately itemized telecommunications line; the office emphasized grant leverage and conservation programming such as workshops and district cost‑share for septic and rain‑garden projects. • Surveyor: a requested baseline of 0% increase overall with small shifts (training up $400; furniture/equipment down $500) and a 4% wage line on the payroll form 144 to reflect inflation expectations. • Treasurer’s office: a postage increase, a new remote check‑capture device and an account for a replacement employee with about 12 weeks of overlap for training; the treasurer also requested a 4% wage guideline on the payroll form. • Health Department: small increases in operating supplies and the communicable‑disease account; department said any new Health First partner support would be budgeted through the local health fund (1059). • Drug Free DeKalb: projected available fund balance of roughly $58,000, with prior-year conservations used to smooth awards across years.

Several department heads also described facility needs. The planning/building department circulated photos of an aging office building with soft flooring and leaking ceilings and asked the council to consider longer‑range facility plans and possible relocation or renovation funding.

The presentations did not include formal appropriation votes; council directed staff to continue preparing technical materials and to bring specific contract terms and cost scenarios where needed.