Wells County officials present 2025 budget requests, wages and capital needs top priorities

Wells County elected officials and department heads met in a budget session Aug. 13, 2024, at the Wells County Carnegie Annex to present 2025 spending requests and review capital and staffing needs.

Commissioner President Jeff Stringer presented the commissioners' general fund request of $4,071,474 and a LIT Economic Development Fund request of $1,306,000 and asked for a 3% wage increase. Stringer said higher liability insurance costs and the removal of the Public Information Officer from the 2025 budget affected the request, and proposed adding a building inspector in the economic development budget because "homes in the county [are] not being up to code" and federal financing is a problem.

Treasurer Kathy Peeper reported strong interest income that helped county finances, saying interest earned was $810,822.28 in 2023 and $598,225.69 so far in 2024. Auditor Lisa McCormick suggested the county could redistribute levied amounts in future years to address large fund balances, commenting on a question from Council about the Reassessment fund.

Multiple offices requested wage increases — most commonly 3% or 5% — and officials flagged specific program needs: Health Director Sahara Wall requested a full-time Environmental Health position with a proposed salary of $37,500; Circuit Court Judge Kent Kiracofe said the Juvenile Public Defender line was increased to cover two juvenile defenders; and several departments noted rising translation and software costs.

Council asked for line-item reductions in some budgets. Emergency Management Director Rick Velasquez's request was reduced by $19,500 after Council trimmed PPE, room rental and equipment lines. The session closed with Council scheduling potential follow-up budget meetings for Aug. 20, 21 and 22, 2024 and recessing until Aug. 20 at 6:00 PM.

The budget process will resume with Council deliberations and possible adjustments at the Aug. 20 session.