Commissioners warn of state revenue shortfalls, review jail demolition bids and keep budget plans on track

County officials told the Gibson County Commissioners that a recent suspension of the state's gas sales tax and wheel excise tax will reduce distributions the county relies on and could require drawing on cash balances or making cuts in next year's budget.

"The governor did suspend the gas sales tax and wheel excise tax. That is a lot of our funding," a county official said, warning commissioners the suspension, together with earlier statewide project cuts, has created uncertainty for next year's revenue projections.

On facilities, John Fischer, speaking on behalf of George Valley with the sheriff's office, reported that the construction manager has taken bids for demolition of two jail buildings (referred to in the meeting as the '48 and 89' units). Fischer said contractor Garmong will compile a spreadsheet with the demolition costs and that George Valley will provide that information to commissioners before the next meeting.

Commissioners were told current cash balances allow the county to proceed with planned work for the near term but that staff will review next year's budget to identify potential cuts if state distributions continue to fall. A speaker said staff plan to continue with present-year plans and address budget tradeoffs during the July budget meetings.

Next steps: the sheriff's office will submit the demolition-cost spreadsheet to commissioners; county staff will refine next year's budget assumptions and present options during the scheduled July budget sessions.