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Lincoln County amends and adopts FY 2025–2026 budgets, reduces transfer to detention fund
Summary
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners adopted FY 2025–2026 budgets for multiple towns and regional funds and approved an amended county budget that reduces the transfer to the Detention Center by $300,000 while adding a $300,000 special projects transfer and applying a 5% salary increase for clerical and road staff.
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners adopted the FY 2025–2026 budgets and tax rates on May 19 for Alamo Town, Panaca Town, Pioche Town, the Southeastern Habitat Conservation GID and Regional Transportation, and approved an amended county budget after revisions requested by commissioners.
During a public hearing, County Finance Director Dan McArthur reviewed the proposed budgets. He reported projected ending fund balances including Alamo Town at $5,143, Panaca at $48,208 and Pioche at $351,243; each entity’s budget and tax rate were adopted by unanimous vote.
Commissioners then reviewed the county general fund, with McArthur noting a projected ending balance of just over $900,000 and a need to transfer more than $1.3 million to the Detention Center fund. Commissioners discussed wage negotiations and how to factor potential salary increases into the budgets. District Attorney Wayne Klomp recommended adding 4% to every budget in addition to making Fund 64 whole; the board instead directed several targeted changes.
By board direction, staff were asked to reduce the transfer out to Fund 64 by $300,000 and to increase the transfer into special projects by $300,000. To address Road Fund shortfalls tied to salary increases, commissioners directed cutting one of two planned pickup truck purchases, reducing that line from $200,000 to $100,000. The board also directed staff to incorporate estimated clerical increases phased over two years, with an illustrative plan discussed of 8% the first year and 8% the second if a total 16% increase were agreed.
Commissioner Mike Reese moved to approve the amended county budget — including a 5% salary/wage increase for clerical and road positions, the $300,000 decrease in the transfer to the Detention Center, and the $100,000 reduction in Road pickup truck purchases — and Commissioner Keith Pearson seconded. The motion passed with all voting members in favor.
What happens next: staff will finalize the budget documents reflecting the board’s directives and carry out the transfer adjustments and procurement reductions as instructed. If final wage negotiations exceed the budgeted assumptions, commissioners said they would revisit supplemental funding later in the fiscal year.
