Judge Hill urges 2.76% departmental cuts to avoid tax-rate increase; commissioners debate pay policy

Judge Hill opened a lengthy budget discussion, saying the court's proposed budget and tax rate would represent a tax-rate increase for the first time in 33 years and moved that each county department “find 2.76% in savings so that we do not have to raise taxes this year.”

Commissioner Hale and another commissioner said they appreciated the sentiment but raised concerns that the cuts would undermine core services. Hale said, “I hate taxes just about as bad as everyone,” but warned that public safety, courts and clerks need adequate funding. Another commissioner warned that cutting now could cause long waits at the tax office and impair recruiting for law enforcement.

Judge Hill’s motion to ask departments for 2.76% cuts failed for lack of a second. He later proposed a separate motion to revise the county’s compensation policy from targeting the 75th percentile of the market to targeting the 50th percentile, saying the higher target had become unsustainable. “My motion is that we adopt a new compensation policy that aims for the 50th percentile,” he said. That proposal also failed for lack of a second after colleagues argued lowering pay would hurt retention and recruiting, particularly for sheriff’s office and constable positions.

The court’s discussion highlighted major long-term cost drivers the commissioners say are pressuring the budget. One commissioner said detainee health-care costs at the county jail have risen from about $8 million to roughly $24 million over the past decade and called that growth “unsustainable.” The court concluded the budget discussion without adopting either motion and said it will revisit the final adoption at the September meeting.