Portage County weighs recertifying revenue to close $2.7 million budget gap; commissioners urge departmental cuts first

Portage County staff told commissioners on Feb. 13 that the county faces an approximate $2.7 million budget shortfall and presented options to address it, including certifying an additional $1 million in sales tax revenue and $1.5 million in anticipated interest.

Staff said certifying the additional sales tax would push the certified estimated resources (CER) to about $29 million; last year the county booked roughly $30 million in sales tax receipts. Adding $1.5 million of interest would increase the interest certification to about $5.5 million, compared with $6.8 million last year, staff said.

Commissioners said they were uncomfortable certifying revenue that matches projections too closely because doing so could worsen next year's budget if collections fall. One commissioner asked whether certifying more this year would reduce costs next year and concluded it would not. Several commissioners urged pursuing expense reductions and asked staff to reach out to elected officials and departments to seek additional relief. Staff reported the municipal courts agreed to reduce their benefits line by $283,455; staff recommended further follow-up to see what additional reductions could be identified.

The board directed staff to continue outreach, present updated numbers and return with a recommendation. Commissioners discussed other savings already in process such as restructuring and benefit holiday proposals but emphasized that further collaboration with elected officials would be required before choosing to recertify revenue.