County reviews reserves, insurance projections and budget balancing strategies

Treasurer and budget staff outlined several budget-balancing strategies on July 23 aimed at preserving the County’s fiscal stability for the coming year.

Dennis Meyer recommended transferring $1.5–$2 million into cash reserves to strengthen long-term stability and suggested budgeting for at least a 10% increase in employee health insurance premiums beginning Jan. 1; he noted projections could require more than a 10% increase and promised multi-year modeling. Meyer also proposed using Keno and gaming tax revenues to offset property tax impacts, increasing projected revenues for the Assessor and Election Commissioner, and reducing departmental budget requests by about $2.2 million. He estimated these measures could keep a property tax increase to approximately 3.6% while remaining below statutory notification thresholds.