Board schedules Nov. 25 special meeting to re-examine 2024–25 budget after limited options to reduce expenditures

Board member Jacob Rayl reported that he and Treasurer Colleen Camp reviewed each line item of the proposed 2024–2025 budget and found few options to reduce expenditures aside from salaries; he noted last year’s budget had been passed in deficit yet the county ended the year in the black. Jeff Rehkemper urged a special session with all department heads to review budgets line-by-line, while Wes Pourchot said further reductions would mean staff cuts or increased revenue. The Board agreed to hold a special meeting on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. to continue the review.

The minutes record the motion to table final action on the Annual Levy, Budget and Appropriation until that special meeting (motion: Jeff Rehkemper; second: Chris Timmermann; roll-call vote 5 ayes, 0 nays). No final levy or appropriation figure was adopted at the Nov. 19 meeting; the transcript records differing views on next steps.