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Executive & Finance committee adopts nickel cash‑rounding ordinance, directs levy‑neutral 2027 budget guidance
Summary
The county's Executive & Finance Committee approved an ordinance to round cash payments to the nearest nickel with variance-accounting and gave directional guidance to hold the 2027 levy to the allowable state rate; the committee also froze future salary changes for the Clerk of Court and Sheriff pending COLA alignment with county staff.
The Executive & Finance Committee voted March 9, 2026 to adopt a county ordinance permitting cash payments to be rounded to the nearest five cents (a nickel) and to track rounding variances in a dedicated account.
Corporation Counsel Sean Griffin presented the proposed ordinance and the committee discussed implementation details; Stacy Kohn (finance) will create a miscellaneous variance account to capture small cash rounding amounts. Committee members discussed whether to round up only to the nearest nickel; the committee approved rounding up to the nearest nickel as presented.
On budget guidance, Administrator Ron Barger told the committee he is preparing 2027 budget options that aim to preserve the tax levy at the allowable state limit while absorbing rising personnel costs. The committee voted to recommend that next year’s budget be prepared to maintain the levy and keep general‑fund withdrawal at zero, with staff working to absorb COLA, step increases and health costs within department budgets where possible. The motion carried 4‑1 on a roll‑call vote.
Committee members later addressed elected‑official salaries. After discussion the committee approved a motion to freeze Clerk of Court and Sheriff wages for 2027 and to align future increases for those offices to the same COLA schedule adopted for county staff. The committee recorded the motion as carried.
Next steps: finance staff will set up the variance account and proceed with levy‑neutral budget drafting instructions; proposed budget details will return to the committee for review.
