Klamath County reviews budget, approves 0.75 FTE for services coordinator as reserves and transfers are debated

Klamath County commissioners convened a March 3 budget workshop to review departmental requests, approve personnel changes and discuss how reserves and one‑time funds will be used to carry the county through next fiscal year.

The board approved a motion to add 0.75 full‑time equivalent (FTE) for a services coordinator supervisor in the Development/DD Services budget, with the new position funded for a July 1, 2026 start date. The county presented the fiscal math for the request: the new position at the stated salary step would cost $101,566.59; reducing an incumbent to 0.75 FTE is expected to save $28,198.24, for a net personnel impact of $73,368.35. The motion was seconded and carried; the transcript records board members’ affirmative responses but does not include a roll‑call tally.

Development staff also outlined operational savings and revenue sources that shaped their request. The department plans to sell its three oldest vehicles (one already earmarked for IT), expecting about $35,000 for the surplus sales, and said it is trimming overtime and scaling back some community outreach because prior efforts have produced results. A department presenter said, “we authorize nearly $17,000,000 annually into the Klamath County economy, due to the Medicaid services that we authorize to be rendered,” highlighting the county’s role in administering services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Finance staff presented reserve planning and a proposed $4,000,000 transfer from LATCF into the general fund non‑departmental account to shore up cash flow between July and November. County staff said that transfer would leave a remaining LATCF balance of about $1.5 million (noting some of that is opioid‑settlement money) and that the transfer is intended as a cash‑flow device rather than a spending appropriation. The finance presenter said the office will watch cash closely and will not make the transfer if it is unnecessary.

Commissioners directed staff to continue balancing work on several outstanding departmental shortfalls, including juvenile detention, the sheriff’s patrol and the tax collector, and asked the finance office to prepare the per‑fund cost of potential collective‑bargaining wage increases (1%, 2%, 3%) so the board can evaluate fiscal impacts ahead of negotiations.

The workshop covered dozens of departmental line items and reserve requests; commissioners emphasized the need for a balanced budget at the hearings and granted staff limited authority to move transfers among funds so long as the adopted budget remains balanced.