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Commissioners direct staff to study options after auto-license fund shortfall forecast
Summary
An anticipated auto-license fund shortfall (approx. $617,116 this year, rising to roughly $959,844 in 2025) prompted a proposal for staff to work with the elected treasurer and pursue legislative fixes, fee increases or operational changes; commissioners asked the treasurer to explain service impacts.
Commissioner Howe flagged an expected shortfall in the auto-license fund and proposed directing staff to coordinate with the county treasurer to reduce costs and eliminate any general-fund subsidy in 2025. He outlined three legislative avenues to address the issue: require state reimbursement, authorize fee increases that have not been raised in decades, or allow the elected official to set appropriate fees.
Commissioner Weinstein asked whether fee increases are currently permitted; staff indicated there are statutory constraints and that counsel and the county's lobbyist should be engaged. Commissioners requested the elected treasurer (Brandy Bailey) provide an assessment of service impacts if subsidies are curtailed, and staff agreed to add this issue to the county's legislative platform for follow-up.
