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.