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Cole County Commission approves EMS budget adjustment, sheriff holiday payout and 2026 benefit limits; staff to survey on holiday scheduling
Summary
The commission approved a $59,000 EMS budget adjustment, authorized a sheriff holiday leave payout (worst-case cost estimate $75,000), and raised 2026 cafeteria plan limits to federal maximums; commissioners agreed to survey staff on 2026 holiday preferences before finalizing the calendar.
The Cole County Commission approved several administrative measures during its regular meeting, including a court order to move $59,000 from the county’s EMS enterprise fund and a request from the sheriff’s office to allow up to 40 hours per employee of accrued holiday leave to be paid out.
County staff described the EMS item as a second and final reading for budget adjustment No. 7 and said the requested amount is $59,000 from the EMS enterprise fund; a commissioner moved to approve court order No. 7 and the motion carried on a voice vote. On the sheriff’s request, staff and a sheriff’s representative said the payout would be applied to accrued holiday leave and that a worst-case cost — if every eligible employee took the full 40 hours — could be about $75,000. A motion to approve the sheriff’s holiday payout request was made and carried by voice vote; staff said they will confirm the exact implementation date after checking internal payroll dates.
Separately, the commission approved proposed 2026 cafeteria plan limits that staff said align with federal maximums: $3,400 for health reimbursement and $7,500 for dependent care. A commissioner moved to adopt the proposed 2026 limits and the motion carried by voice vote.
None of the three measures included a recorded roll-call tally in the transcript; votes were taken by voice and were announced as carried. The commission also discussed operational impacts (staffing and payroll lines) and confirmed that available salary line carryover exists to cover some costs, citing an approximate $450,000 carryover in salary lines due to vacant positions.
Votes at a glance: • Court order No. 7 — Budget adjustment No. 7 (EMS enterprise fund): $59,000 — Approved (voice vote). • Sheriff holiday leave payout — allow up to 40 hours paid per person (implementation date to be determined): Approved (voice vote); worst-case cost estimate ~$75,000 according to staff comments. • Cafeteria plan limits for 2026 — set medical reimbursement to $3,400 and dependent care to $7,500: Approved (voice vote).
Staff indicated follow-up steps: confirm the payroll timing for the sheriff payout and proceed with administrative implementation; no additional policy or ordinance changes were adopted.
