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Scott County reports $5.3 million increase in general fund; investment earnings drive most of the gain
Summary
Finance staff told commissioners that Scott County’s pre‑audit 2025 results show a $5.3 million improvement in the general fund balance, largely from about $4 million in higher investment earnings; delayed human services revenue and lower property‑tax collections produced offsets that staff said should normalize in 2026.
Scott County finance staff presented the county’s 2025 pre‑audit year‑end results at the April 7 board meeting, reporting a $5.3 million increase to the general fund balance.
According to the presentation, the largest contributor to the positive variance was investment earnings, which came in roughly $4 million over budget. Salary and benefit vacancy savings contributed about $760,000. Offsetting those gains were lower property‑tax collections (about $1.3 million below expectations) and timing delays in Health & Human Services revenue; the presenter said some 2025 funding arrived in March and April and will produce a favorable variance in 2026 when recognized.
The presenter noted a mix of other variances across departments: a $1.4 million negative variance in Health & Human Services driven largely by revenue‑recognition timing and missing UKARE funding (approximately $350,000), favorable variances in Planning & Resource Management (about $1.2 million, including restricted environmental revenues), and a $319,000 unfavorable variance in the Sheriff’s Office related in part to restricted 911 spending and a transfer to capital for a new voice logger.
Finance staff summarized Scott County’s fund balance trend (2009–2025) and noted the county’s unrestricted fund balance sits near 40% of operating expenses, inside the Office of the State Auditor guideline range of 35%–50%. The county’s investment portfolio was described as short‑term focused: 88% in instruments maturing within two years, 78% held in money market accounts, 18% in government agency securities and 4% in bank certificates of deposit.
Commissioners asked questions about the property‑tax shortfall and revenue recognition; finance staff said the missing or delayed funds are expected to arrive and help 2026 results. Staff also noted if alternative recognition (standalone county status) had been in effect earlier it would have brought an additional favorable variance of roughly $1.45 million for 2025.
Next steps: staff will continue to research property‑tax collection drivers, refine budget assumptions for 2027 and provide more granular reporting (for example separating jail costs within Sheriff’s Office reporting) upon request from commissioners.
