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Supervisors debate county employee raises, insurance costs and opt to explore prorating property taxes
Summary
Lee County supervisors discussed a proposed 3% county raise, higher insurance costs, vehicle and convenience-site savings and voted to explore prorating personal property and real-estate taxes beginning Jan. 1, 2025; they also approved closed-session action on personnel matters and scheduled public hearings on several county properties.
Lee County supervisors spent sizable time at their June 2024 budget work session discussing county employee compensation, rising insurance costs, operational savings and tax options to close an estimated budget gap.
Staff (S2) told the board that employee insurance costs had increased roughly 8% and presented several carrier and plan options; supervisors discussed how a 3% across-the-board raise would translate into monthly employee contributions and whether raises should be percent-based or flat-dollar. "We're paying half of their raises in those two offices," S2 said while explaining which positions receive comp-board funding and which are locally funded.
Board members debated operational cost reductions (convenience site hours, porta-john units, and landfill logistics) and the trade-offs of cutting hours versus retaining CDL drivers and service quality. Supervisors discussed potential savings from altering convenience site hours and consolidating routes, but members cautioned about retaining qualified drivers.
On taxes, Supervisor (S7) moved to "explore prorating personal property and real estate" tax billing beginning Jan. 1, 2025; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. S7 argued prorating would make taxation fairer for people who acquire or sell vehicles partway through the year, while other supervisors cautioned about administrative complexity and potential revenue effects. S7 stated, "I make a motion to explore explore prorating personal property and real estate. Beginning 01/01/2025." The board voted in favor and asked staff to return with fiscal models.
The board also approved a motion (S5) to enter closed session under the cited personnel statute to discuss employment matters; the motion was seconded and carried.
Why it matters: The board is balancing employee morale and retention pressures against rising benefit costs and a county budget deficit; exploring prorated taxation could alter billing timing and revenue distribution and would require administrative changes and public outreach.
What happens next: Staff will produce fiscal models and ordinance options for prorated tax billing, provide more precise insurance-cost comparisons, and report back prior to final budget adoption.
