Cole County commissioners review capital priorities, jail HVAC and shop expansion amid 2026 budget talks
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Summary
Commissioners reviewed roughly $5.4 million in sales-tax-funded capital improvement availability, debated prioritizing law-enforcement HVAC (estimated $1.2M–$2.6M), a public-works shop expansion (~$2M), and earlier decisions on a 1% cost-of-living pay increase proposal with EMS grid exceptions.
Cole County commissioners used the Dec. 10 session to review capital-improvement proposals in the draft 2026 budget, the county—s five-year sales-tax plan and personnel pay proposals.
Staff presented a list of capital outlay requests and a projected $5.4 million available from the sales-tax capital cycle. Commissioners identified law-enforcement HVAC as a top priority with widely varying price estimates (discussed figures included $1.2M–$2.6M). They also considered a proposed public-works shop expansion that staff estimated at roughly $1.7M–$2.0M depending on scope, and discussed phasing or bidding alternates to reduce near-term cash needs.
On personnel, staff presented the cost implications of a 2% versus 1% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) and a hybrid flat-plus-percent approach. Commissioners noted the county—s pay-grid changes (including a new minimum-wage-aligned grid affecting EMS) and the pending salary study; they signaled support for a more limited 1% COLA approach while leaving EMS grid adjustments to be reconciled with the salary study and timing.
The commission directed staff to finalize carryforward and contingency adjustments after Jan. 1 and scheduled a Jan. 8 follow-up to update numbers before mid-January budget deadlines.