Linn County sets Nov. 12 public hearing for FY2026 budget amendment after staff outline carryovers and adjustments

The Linn County Board of Supervisors voted Oct. 22 to set a public hearing on Nov. 12, 2025, at 10 a.m. for a proposed amendment to the FY2026 budget after Budget Director Sarah Burrows reviewed department requests for carryovers and appropriation adjustments.

Burrows walked the board through department‑level items covered by the amendment, including an auditor request to carry over FY2025 funds for a temporary account technician, a board office carryover for crisis plan training (about $10,000), three water studies totaling $135,000, MidAmerican Energy fees and reimbursements, and a placeholder for opioid settlement funds and related applications. She said many items reflect FY2025 carryovers or anticipated reimbursements that need appropriations in FY2026.

On revenue, Burrows flagged a total change in expenditures across funds of about $17 million and said the general fund effect is roughly $1.1 million, describing the net general‑fund amendment as “just over $1,000,000.” She emphasized that the amendment primarily adds appropriations (required to legally spend funds) and that revenues can be adjusted later if more information becomes available.

Supervisors asked for clarification about air‑quality fee revenue: one supervisor expected fee increases to raise revenues after a recent DNR fee change but the amendment showed a decrease for that fund; Burrows said the amendment reflects what public health submitted and she would follow up with staff to reconcile the discrepancy.

The board approved setting the public hearing by voice vote. Burrows said departments such as facilities, IT and public health included a range of carryovers for projects, security and grant adjustments, and noted that some transfers (for example, capital projects paying secondary roads shop bills) will be processed as part of normal quarter transfers.