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Brown County staff warn of mid‑hundred‑thousand dollar general‑fund gap under conservative 2027 budget
Summary
County finance staff told commissioners that, after removing one‑time state supplements and assuming full spending, the general fund could show a deficit in the mid‑hundreds of thousands for 2027. Staff identified options including transfers and spending adjustments.
Brown County finance staff presented the council with two ways to compare department budget requests and cautioned the council not to rely on nonrecurring state supplements when planning 2027.
"The projected deficit for the general fund is is, little over $523,000," the county's budget presenter, Jerry, said while reviewing the far‑right comparison column that uses 2026 salary ordinance amounts plus a $100 longevity adjustment. He told the panel that the purple column in the packet shows projected ending cash after the proposed budget is paid and that one‑time supplemental revenue in past years inflates the bottom line.
Staff emphasized the council should plan conservatively. Jerry noted that the county has historically underspent budgets by a three‑year average near 6%, but the draft financial plan assumes full 100% spending for 2027 to avoid creating an operating shortfall. That conservative approach, combined with the omission of a recurring supplemental received in 2026, widened the projected deficit.
The council asked staff to return with modeling showing what transfers or cuts would be needed to close the gap and whether shifting capital items to dedicated capital funds could provide relief. The county will discuss options — including transfers from economic development or other discretionary funds — during subsequent hearing sessions.
