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Clay County reviews draft 2026 budget focused on public safety, personnel and infrastructure
Summary
County staff presented a draft 2026 budget that includes a 2.7% cost-of-living adjustment, planned step increases tied to a compensation study and capital investments in roads, parks and the airport; commissioners pressed staff on vacancy assumptions and whether growth in public safety staffing keeps pace with population increases.
Clay County commissioners on Thursday received a draft 2026 budget that county administrators said funds a 2.7% cost-of-living adjustment, continues a first full year of a compensation-and-classification plan and keeps an emphasis on public safety and infrastructure.
County administration described the budget as guided by the county’s five strategic pillars — safety and well-being, financial sustainability, economic opportunity, infrastructure and employer choice — and said sales and use tax accounts for roughly one-third of operating revenues. The presentation projected an ending fund balance near $47,000,000 and highlighted department allocations, including juvenile services (about $5.7 million) and the prosecutor’s office (about $5.4 million).
"This budget also funds a 2.7% COLA as well as [a] municipal economic development summit," County Administrator Damon said during the presentation. He told the commission the administration is accounting for population growth and planned capital work, including airport roof and taxiway projects, road-and-bridge investments and facility maintenance.
Commissioners asked detailed questions about hiring and vacancy assumptions. "Does that presume all vacancies have been filled, or do we still make assumptions related to vacant positions over the course of the next year?" Commissioner Lawson asked. Damon said the budget does not assume all vacancies will be filled and that departments with a strong hiring record were modeled differently from those that do not fill positions as quickly.
Several commissioners focused on public safety staffing. Commissioner Johnson said the county’s rapid population growth suggests a need to grow law enforcement and prosecutor staffing in step with that expansion. "If we’re one of the fastest-growing counties in the state, we should have one of the fastest growing sheriff’s offices and prosecutor’s offices in the state as well," he said, urging particular scrutiny when the sheriff’s and prosecutor’s budgets are reviewed.
The presentation outlined personnel-related details the administration said were derived from a recent compensation study: a midyear step increase for employees tied to performance reviews, an administration plan to move positions from part-time to full-time where budget allows, and $1.1 million the county would cover that the presenter described as a county decision "instead of passing that on to your employees." The presenter also said one slide showed a "0% increase for the employees" in a specific context; commissioners asked for clarification in future hearings.
The commission was given a budget calendar with departmental hearings planned in December and a proposed public hearing on Jan. 8 for final approval and adoption.
Next steps: staff will present department-level budget details at scheduled December hearings (general fund on Dec. 2; sheriff, assessor and parks on Dec. 9; road and bridge and the 5-year CIP on Dec. 15) and return to the commission ahead of the Jan. 8 adoption vote.
