During the Dec. 8 workshop, commissioners debated the commission travel and discretionary budgets, with some arguing travel returns substantial project and grant revenue to the county and others urging restraint while the county faces a multi‑hundred‑thousand dollar shortfall.

Positions: some commissioners highlighted their role in securing large capital grants (recounting specific grant wins and project funding) and said travel is an investment that brings money back to the county. Other commissioners argued the county should lead by example and keep travel allocations at 2025 levels (roughly $20,500 in aggregate) rather than increasing them; one commissioner proposed a cap and suggested better coordination so fewer commissioners attend the same events.

Operational detail: staff clarified travel lines and discretionary lines in the budget and said some expenses (conference registrations, legislative travel) are coded differently; commissioners asked staff to add travel, professional services and discretionary lines to the next day's agenda for scrutiny.

Next steps: staff will return with more detail on commission travel and discretionary spending for the next meeting, and commissioners signaled a preference among many to keep travel flat for now rather than increase it.