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Committee hears $716,104 preliminary general-revenue gap; Clerk cites $17,000 election shortfall
Summary
Finance staff briefed the Dodge County Finance Committee on anticipated 2024 year-end deficits, reporting a preliminary general-revenue shortfall of $716,104.58 and a $17,000 County Clerk election-related deficit; staff said figures are preliminary and will be finalized after year-end close. Recruitment for a finance director was also discussed.
Finance staff provided the Dodge County Finance Committee with a preliminary update on anticipated 2024 year-end deficits and staffing changes, reporting an estimated general revenue shortfall of $716,104.58 and several department-level variances that will be finalized after the year-end close.
Staff said figures are preliminary and subject to change when the county completes its closeout; they committed to returning with final numbers and any formal budget-resolution language necessary to cover deficits. A staff presentation identified the County Clerk's Office as having an anticipated $17,000 deficit tied primarily to elections costs (additional contests, printing and shipping) and said workers' compensation and dental insurance funds showed deficits related to higher-than-expected claims.
The County Clerk (unnamed in the transcript) detailed several drivers of the elections overrun: the county ran four elections instead of the three budgeted, printing and per-ballot costs rose, the ballot-on-demand printer failed two weeks before the election (forcing purchased ballots and shipping), and introduced newly approved color envelopes that cost more than prior black-and-white stock. The clerk said the vendor later reimbursed the county for the failed ballot printer charge and that additional envelope stock obtained will cover upcoming needs.
Staff explained that, in general, deficits roll into the general fund and that the county will prepare a formal budget resolution once year-end numbers are closed. Members asked about specific accounts (state shared revenue and utility shared revenue) that appeared under-budgeted; staff agreed to review accounting entries and return with corrected statements if applicable.
The committee also received a staffing update: the recent recruitment for a combined finance director/administration director produced roughly 24–30 applicants but no hire (the top candidate withdrew and the second candidate raised issues), prompting staff to close that recruitment and instead revise an assistant finance director job description and pursue targeted outreach to recruitment firms. The county announced Kevin Nikilski as interim IT director and that Dawn Galt had started as executive assistant about a month prior.
What’s next: final year-end close numbers to be supplied at the next report and any necessary budget-resolution language returned to the committee for action.
