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Monroe County auditors report midyear cash gains as consultants warn of longer-term pressures
Summary
Auditor Brienne Gregory told the Long-Term Finance Planning Committee that cash balances and levy revenues are tracking close to estimates and that second-quarter cash was about 8% higher year‑over‑year. Financial Solutions Group urged caution: one-time gains and interest income buoy 2026 but sustainability still depends on policy choices for COLA, step increases and longevity.
Monroe County's auditor reported a stronger-than-expected midyear picture but consultants urged caution about relying on one-time or interest-driven gains as the county prepares budgets for FY2027.
Auditor Brienne Gregory told the Long-Term Finance Planning Committee on June 30 that county cash across funds looks healthy at midyear, noting “the second quarter of 2025 was up 8% from the prior year, and the second quarter in 2026, we're up 8% again,” and that revenues and expenditures are tracking close to expectations at the six‑month mark. She said the packet includes a cash analysis, anticipated-versus-actual comparisons for levy funds and an expenditure analysis that shows spending near budgeted levels.
But presenters and the county's outside fiscal adviser, the Financial Solutions Group, warned that some 2026 strength reflects factors that may not repeat. Greg Geratas of FSG said the sustainability model assumes a 2% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) but cautioned that a number of personnel decisions and one-time revenues influence near‑term results. “In our sustainability we use 2%,” he said, and added that step increases and other recurring costs need careful vetting to avoid pushing ongoing personnel costs higher than the model assumes.
Committee members and staff highlighted several items that will shape the FY2027 outlook: the county's growth quotient and supplemental income tax receipts have been positive, but interest income and some one-time receipts that bolstered 2026 could decline. The auditor also noted structural changes to how some program revenues and expenses will be handled in 2027 (for example, changes to building-department budgeting were discussed and described in the packet as creating a gap that still needs to be resolved).
The committee directed staff to continue refining assumptions and to bring clarifying detail to council for upcoming budget deliberations. The county has a public hearing scheduled in early October and staff said they will provide updated materials to the council and post packet documents for public review prior to formal budget adoption.
What's next: staff will reconcile packet figures, refine sustainability model inputs, and provide council members with updated scenarios ahead of the October hearing.
