County attorney says Department of Revenue controls some constitutional officers' budgets; commissioners weigh options

Commissioners asked whether the county can require constitutional officers to take cuts alongside other county departments. The county attorney explained statutory limits and advised how the board might proceed.

"For the record, the statute's 197Point087," the county attorney said during the workshop and then later referenced the relevant section number again in discussion, explaining that the Department of Revenue has a role in setting some constitutional budgets. The attorney said budgets for the tax collector and property appraiser are governed by state procedures, though the board retains more discretion over other constitutional offices such as the clerk and sheriff.

Commissioner Holt and others asked whether the board could fund constitutional salaries at lower levels and then petition the Department of Revenue to review those budgets; the attorney said petitioning is possible but the Department of Revenue maintains discretion in its review. Commissioners discussed whether asking constitutional officers for a percentage reduction across the board would be feasible and said they will pursue options while the county finalizes its tentative budget timeline.

The exchange underscored that some budget levers are governed by state law and that the board's choices on county staffing will interact with those legal constraints.