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Staff: Separating Soil and Water into its own department would require oversight and clearer accounting
Summary
County staff said that making Soil and Water a standalone department would trigger state board of account oversight, require time approval and separate line items for manager pay, intern pay and board member pay; staff proposed creating a new department and reporting structure.
County staff (S2) told commissioners that, under state board of account standards, a separate department would need oversight for fund accounting and payroll processing. "By state board of account standards, if you're not an elected official...you would still need someone to be oversight of your fund," S2 said, explaining that commissioners would review a separate department budget and approve time and pay.
S2 also described prior practice of cutting a single $12,000 check to the Soil & Water board and the resulting administrative complications. "So previously, we were cutting the $12,000 check to them...They were just adding that to their books, and then they were paying out full...W‑2s that happen for the board members," S2 said, and offered to work with Kristen to set up a separate department with line items for manager pay, intern pay and board member pay so the amounts are transparent. Commissioners did not vote; staff will prepare separation materials and a proposed budget.
