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Preliminary 2026 budget shows $2.2M shortfall; board weighs reserves, cuts and modest levy options
Summary
County staff reported a roughly $2.2 million budget gap for 2026 and proposed a mix of expense reductions, use of reserves (including $650,000 of ARPA used in the draft), targeted staffing holds, and limited levy increases (discussion ranged from 0–4%) to close the gap.
County auditor/treasurer staff reported updated projections that put a preliminary 2026 budget roughly $2,200,000 in deficit compared with staff assumptions earlier in the summer. Staff outlined a range of mitigation steps including targeted expense cuts, more conservative boarding revenue assumptions for the jail, use of reserves and ARPA funds already built into the draft, and modest levy adjustments. "Back in July... based on today's numbers, we're about $2,200,000 in a deficit when we look at our 2026 budget," the auditor/treasurer said.
Staff noted the draft currently relies on about $650,000 of ARPA funds as a one‑time plug and suggested several revenue or cost measures that could narrow the gap: (1) a conservative boarding-revenue forecast tied to federal and St. Louis County contracts could add roughly $160,000 (assuming ~8 boarders per day); (2) incremental interest income from maturing investments might add $50,000–$100,000; (3) returning staffing vacancy assumptions to a 95% budgeting level could reduce payroll expense; and (4) careful use of reserves and a levy increase in the 1–2% range were discussed as plausible parts of a balanced approach. Commissioners also discussed a temporary policy to delay automatic backfills for vacancies (two‑month hold and personnel-committee vetting) to slow hiring momentum and reduce costs.
Why it matters: the board must set a preliminary levy and refine the budget before late‑September deadlines; choices will affect county services, staffing and reserves and may constrain long-term fiscal flexibility if one-time funds are heavily relied upon.
