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Jennese County CFO lays out 2026 budget request as ARPA winds down; commissioners press on grant risks
Summary
CFO Crystal Simpson told the finance committee the county’s 2026 departmental requests total about $126.1 million (down roughly $10.6M from 2025 amended), driven largely by ARPA drawdown; commissioners asked how grant losses could affect staff and pensions.
Crystal Simpson, Jennese County’s chief financial officer, presented the finance committee with an overview of the proposed 2026 budget. Simpson said 2025 amended general‑fund expenditures were $136.7 million, while departmental requests for 2026 totaled $126.1 million — a decline Simpson attributed largely to the winding down of American Rescue Plan Act projects.
"Without ARPA, 2025 is $122.9 million and 2026 is $122.6 million," Simpson said, noting the net non‑ARPA decrease was modest. Simpson told commissioners that salaries and fringe benefits represent about 66% of the general fund and that operating costs and transfers each account for about 17%.
Members pressed for details on the county’s exposure if federal grants are reduced. Simpson said staff have prepared spreadsheets tracking which positions are grant‑funded and that, in many cases, federal dollars committed through May 2026 would delay an immediate hit until the 2027 budget, but continued reductions could force difficult choices.
On retirement costs, Simpson said required pension contributions had stabilized but retiree health (OPED) contributions would rise by roughly $174,000 for the coming year; the county continues voluntary contributions into the VIVA trust to manage long‑term liability.
Simpson said the proposed budget book will be presented at the finance committee on Aug. 13 and the final budget will return to the board on Aug. 20. She also noted the statutory flexibility under Public Act 2 that allows use of fund balance for one‑time costs while maintaining a formally balanced budget.
Commissioners asked for further analysis of capital‑plan savings tied to the county’s move into a new tower, for grant‑by‑grant lists of positions that could be affected, and for continued work on non‑personnel savings for the August review.
The finance committee did not vote to adopt a final budget at the meeting; Simpson said she would return with the proposed book in August.
