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Hall County adopts budget guidance and approves 3% COLA plus steps
Summary
County budget staff recommended and the board approved a 3% cost-of-living adjustment plus step increases for county employees, directed department heads to follow the budget letter and timelines, and confirmed various budget assumptions including a $300 per employee retirement contribution and $5 per employee for unemployment.
County budget staff (speaker 17) presented preliminary valuation and levy information and recommended a personnel adjustment of 3% COLA plus step increases. The board approved the recommendation and also approved a budget-letter package to department heads that sets operating‑expense guidance and submission deadlines.
The presenter reviewed historical levy rates and the state auditor’s published inflation "slice" rate (5.26%). Staff recommended using a conservative valuation estimate and noted that salary costs remain the largest budget pressure. The board voted to accept the 3% COLA plus steps, to keep a 0% baseline operating expense increase (with case-by-case exceptions), to continue a $300 per-employee contribution toward unfunded retirement liability, and to continue the $5 per-employee unemployment contribution. The board also approved sending the standard letters and schedules to outside entities to collect bond information and other materials.
Board members were told the 2026 valuation will not be finalized until August and that the recommended personnel increases are consistent with recent union negotiations and inflation trends. The board placed the budget letter on file and will receive department responses per the timelines specified in the letter.
Next steps: staff will collect department responses by the dates in the budget letter and return to the board as required for final tax-asking and levy calculations.
