Treasurer presents balanced FY2025–26 budget; court approves budget amendment and standing orders

Treasurer Amy presented the county's financial report for the ten months ending April 30 and delivered the first reading of the proposed FY2025–26 budget at the May 14 work session.

Amy said receipts for the reporting period were $33 million and expenditures $31.6 million, with a fund balance of about $31.2 million. She noted a requested fund-code change from the Department for Local Government (DLG) moving the opioid fund to fund 74 beginning July 1 so the state can monitor opioid-related funds consistently across counties.

Amy presented budget amendment number three, describing increases of roughly $359,000 that bring the total FY2024–25 budget to about $56.4 million; excluding capital and federal projects, the adjusted total is about $38 million. The amendment amends grants, insurance proceeds and the surplus account, and the court approved the second reading of amendment #3 by voice vote.

For the FY2025–26 budget, Amy summarized a total (excluding capital and federal projects) of $42.845 million, a planned balanced budget that draws $6.421 million from reserves (including $3.244 million for Lake View phase one) and uses $2 million of bonding for the same project. The draft also includes a 3% midyear pay increase for employees.

The court approved a standing order to preauthorize certain recurrent expenses, discussed handling courthouse subleases while the courthouse remains unusable, and accepted claims and supplemental bills tied to flood-relief events. Several magistrates thanked staff and volunteer groups for flood-relief fundraising and support.

Budget amendment #3 was approved in the voting session; the FY2025–26 budget had its first reading and will return for final vote at a later session.