Treasurer Parker highlights postage, payment program and staffing needs in budget presentation

Treasurer Parker presented a largely level-funded operating budget and told the board that small timing changes in state guidance could shift when pay increases take effect. He said the budget request reflects a conservative approach to personnel funding but warned that rising postage rates create a meaningful operating expense. "A general mailing, just 1 general fall billing, is an ex almost $25,000 printing and mailing," Parker said, explaining why postage is a recurring pressure on his office.

Parker described the county's long-standing automatic payment program, noting both its uptake and limits as a cost-management tool. "We are we have over almost 700 taxpayers signed up for that," he said, adding that banks' escrow practices also affect how many bills the treasurer's office sends to mortgage companies. Parker also said the compensation board's workload calculations show the treasurer's office is funded for fewer employees than its workload indicates, and he asked the board to consider staffing pressure in future discussions.