Commission adopts tentative 2025 budget; key assumptions include 2.6% COLA and projected health‑insurance rise

Clerk/Auditor Shamil Lam presented the county’s tentative budget for 2025 and explained the document is the statutory first step in budgeting and is subject to amendment before final adoption. The proposed budget includes a 2.6% cost‑of‑living adjustment allowance, an assumed 10% increase in health‑insurance costs, requests to increase hours for certain part‑time positions (one health‑services position and one extension‑agent position proposed to move to 30 hours), and reallocation possibilities (including use of library funds for STEM programming and shifting farmers‑market grant support into the budget). Lam also said staff were working through the office‑of‑tourism remodel RFP and noted the sheriff had secured about $2.3 million in federal funds for search‑and‑rescue reflected in the draft.

Commissioners discussed whether some public‑health services and multi‑county shared services should be scaled back or adjusted and asked staff to provide more detail before the final budget decision. One commissioner asked whether a full‑time attorney volunteer coordinator could instead be a 30‑hour position with benefits; staff estimated the incremental cost at roughly $13,000. After discussion a motion to adopt the tentative budget as presented was made and passed unanimously.

The tentative adoption obligates staff to continue detailed work on staffing, COVID‑fund adjustments, and other fund‑specific items as the budget is refined prior to final adoption.