Warren County health officials report stable salaries share, note preschool revenue timing

Ton, the county fiscal staff member, presented the department's April financial attachments and explained year-to-date figures at the Warren County Health Services Committee meeting on April 12.

Ton said salaries stood at 26.54% of the budget year-to-date compared with 27% at the same point last year, noting staff changes and recent negotiated salary increases affect the total. "You'll see that we were at 26.54 of the budget as of May. And last year, at this time, we were at 27," Ton said, adding that negotiations and part-time versus full-time staffing mix influence the totals.

Ton told the committee that the preschool program is the largest predictable revenue source and that its revenues are typically recognized later in the fiscal cycle. "Our preschool program, which is like a $3,000,000 program, is usually the one" that affects year-to-year comparisons, Ton said. He also noted an infrastructure grant is recorded as equipment and therefore appears in the financials differently than salary lines.

Committee members asked why the reported year-to-date salaries percentage change in the attachments (8.8%) appeared larger than the union-negotiated raises (3.25%). Ton and staff explained the 8.8% reflects the total paid across a larger base and staffing changes, not a single annual percentage applied to every salary line.

Members also requested that infrastructure grant spending be visible in future materials; staff said the grant was for equipment and furniture and will appear in the accounting when purchases post. The committee had no formal action on the fiscal report beyond discussion and moved on to other agenda items.

Ton said the department is in the middle of closing April and will continue to post remaining grants and revenues as they are finalized.