Commissioners review 2026 supplemental budget requests, including road realignment and chip-seal increases

County staff presented a consolidated supplemental budget request for 2026, outlining several line items the county intends to add to the upcoming budget.

Dobry told commissioners that an extra payroll this calendar year (the 11th-year 27th payroll) requires additional funding and that the supplemental packet groups the items rather than publishing many separate notices. Staff described funding requests of $322,000 for the general fund, $72,000 for road and bridge, $55,000 for public health, and $25,000 for landfill to cover the extra payroll cycle. Dobry said those funds should carry the county through the December payroll date.

Dobry also listed unbudgeted county cleanup expenses of approximately $77,000, a $22,000 increase in professional services to cover unanticipated legal work and contract work by Magellan Strategies related to the ballot matter, and a needed increase to chip-seal costs. "The chip seal was budgeted at $414,000, and there is needed to be an additional $128,000 for increased cost for the chip seal," Dobry said.

On capital road work, staff described a Road 25 and U.S. 491 realignment project estimated at $1,225,000 to be funded by a transfer from the road impact fee fund; staff noted that road impact fees are charged to developers. Dobry said the supplemental request and related notices have been posted in the paper of record (the Journal) on June 24 and July 1 as required.

No formal approval or vote on the supplemental appropriation was recorded in the meeting transcript; staff said similar items would also be presented to the E-911 board.

Next steps: staff will prepare formal supplemental appropriation documents for the commission to consider and for public notice as required.