Budget update: commissioners review transfer, fee proposal and pending opioid‑fund requests

Britney Phillips, the county’s budget and finance officer, presented an updated budget development worksheet at the July 16 meeting reflecting a $5,150,000 transfer commissioners approved on Monday and other departmental revenue and expenditure estimates.

Phillips outlined a proposed $10 fee in the treasurer’s office (state rules require the county to state how such fee revenue would be used and to ensure it does not directly replace ad valorem tax revenue). "The state is requiring that we have to show how we're gonna spend those funds, and they wanna make sure it's not to offset ad valorem taxes specifically," Phillips said. Commissioners discussed whether additional department fees should be revisited for future budget years and noted limits tied to statutory requirements.

Phillips also noted two pending requests for opioid‑settlement funds that will require later discussion: a position request from the health department (related to the earlier personnel changes) and a request from community corrections for a drug‑court position. Those requests are separate from the general fund and will be considered in forthcoming budget work.

What happens next: Finance will finalize the worksheet for submission to the treasurer’s office, and commissioners will schedule discussion of the opioid‑fund requests and any fee proposals as part of the budget process.

Sources: Budget presentation by Britney Phillips; commissioners’ Q&A recorded at the July 16 meeting.