County finance staff reported stronger revenue collections in the September distribution and commissioners approved routine budget items and adjustments at the Nov. 18 meeting.

Bernie Gonzalez reported the county received nearly $7.4 million in general fund gross receipts tax for the September distribution and a total of about $20.4 million year-to-date in general fund GRT. He also reported oil-and-gas production and pricing figures used for fiscal-year budgeting and said the county is collecting more than budgeted in certain categories.

The board approved the county’s budget-versus-actual report for September, which showed countywide collections at about $118 million (roughly 50% of the annual budget) and noted general-fund expenses were running under the expected 25% benchmark for the year-to-date.

Commissioners approved a fiscal-year 25/26 budget adjustment (R25S408) that decreases the general fund by $149,000, with notable items including $120,000 for professional services in Finance and $15,000 for an HR reclassification. The board also approved a request related to the Sandpoint landfill expansion: staff said WSP and BLM studies found archaeological sites and presented a worst-case Phase 5 estimate read on the record as “525” (the presenter did not specify units on the transcript); staff requested funds from environmental reserves to cover potential costs, and the board approved the request.

On lodgers tax, staff reported Q1 balance growth from $234,000 to $284,000 after $54,000 in collections and discussed potential advertising and event-funding strategies for facilities outside municipal limits. The board approved the Q1 lodgers-tax report and discussed allowable uses (must benefit facilities outside city limits).

The board also approved a reallocation of heavy-equipment savings to purchase a side-mower tractor for roadside maintenance and discussed potential litter-picker equipment to augment ditch clean-up.

Ending

Commissioners approved the revenue and budget items and directed staff to implement the approved reallocations and follow up on procurement and grant administration as needed.