Reno County commissioners approved a one-year trial subscription to SmartDollar, a financial-wellness platform for county employees, with funds coming from the countyEmployee Benefits fund.

Helen Foster, the countyHR director, described SmartDollar as a budgeting and coaching platform that does not lend directly to employees but offers tools to build monthly budgets, identify spending patterns and access tax-preparation features. Foster told commissioners the platform is mobile-friendly, includes individual coaching modules, and provides an employer dashboard showing utilization without exposing individual spending details.

Foster provided pricing: a three-year option would average about $17,588 annually; a one-year contract is estimated at $19,432 for a 400499-employee account. Commissioners and department heads discussed local alternatives (church- or community-run Ramsey-type programs), accountability and expected utilization. Several department heads said they expected strong interest from younger employees and frontline staff whose wages are comparatively low.

After discussion about a one-year trial period, a motion to approve the one-year agreement at $19,432 was moved, seconded and carried by roll-call vote. Commissioners said they expect staff to report participation analytics after the trial to evaluate continued funding.

The trial is to be funded from the existing Employee Benefits fund; the county will monitor utilization data and return a report to the commission after the trial year.