Committee begins 2027 budget review as finance staff outline administrator-proposed numbers

Finance staff told the Administrative Finance Committee that departments were asked to keep 2027 budget requests "neutral" except for wages and benefits, and the committee will meet with departments over the next two weeks to examine requests and produce an administrator-proposed budget. "In the budget instructions that we distributed to all department heads, we had requested that their ask for 2027 remain neutral outside of wages and benefits," Finance Director Gary Nunn said, describing the review timeline and the presentation layout that includes both the county administrator's proposed budget and department head proposals.

Committee members pressed for clarification on line items and starred subtotals in budget worksheets; staff said increases will be reviewed one line at a time with departments. Finance staff flagged legal services and health and human services transitions for further analysis, and the committee set Oct. 2 as the combined meeting to review the budget presentation and discuss any departmental changes further.