Clinton County Council members agreed Tuesday to move toward a 2027 budget that raises employee pay to the midpoint of the county’s salary survey plus 2% with no layoffs, after finding savings in health insurance, payroll-tax and court lines.
The decision came during the council’s second budget hearing. Members began the session facing a gap of more than $1 million between planned spending and expected revenue. By the end, figures presented by Jacque Clements, from the County Auditor’s office, showed the budget roughly in line with projected new revenue. No formal vote was taken. Members plan to review a revised spreadsheet before the Oct. 13 meeting, where they could adopt the budget or recess and return for a special vote before the end of October.
Weighing the options
Council President Alan Dunn opened by laying out four ways to balance the budget: reduce or eliminate raises, cut benefits, draw down cash reserves, or “rightsize” the budget by eliminating positions. He dismissed the reserves option as “the congressional strategy,” which he described as to “just do nothing” and “let our cash balance cover the anticipated shortfall.”
Clements said the county was about $800,000 over its levy. That figure did not include roughly $500,000 in debt payments made from certified shares, putting the total gap above $1 million.
Finding savings
Dunn said early quotes from benefits consultants suggested total health insurance premiums would not exceed $3.1 million, about flat with last year, saving roughly $300,000 in the county general fund. He also said a judge had agreed to spend state reimbursement money first for court-appointed attorneys, freeing $100,000. Members also cut the Social Security and Medicare line to $700,000, a reduction of about $273,000, after calculations for needed salaries. They lowered the retirement line to $1.2 million and set group insurance at $2.125 million.
Debate over raises
Before the savings came together, Clements questioned sizable raises under the salary survey, including for the human resources position. “We’re eliminating positions when we’re giving somebody over a $20,000 raise in a year and another person over a $15,000 raise,” she said.
Sesaly Reifert, who holds the HR position, responded that the increase corrected an error. “It is fixing something that wasn’t done correctly,” she said, adding that “every director makes more than the elected officials.” Members clarified that the 2% would be figured on each position’s survey midpoint rather than current pay.
EMS warns about 2028
EMS Director Stephen Deckard asked the council to keep his proposed pay structure, which puts most EMTs and paramedics at the survey’s low point because built-in overtime inflates their total pay. He said taking EMTs to the midpoint would shrink the gap with paramedics too much. He said the department can make 2027 work, but it will be tight, and cautioned about the following year. “I can’t get you through 2028 with these current rates,” he said. “It is a mathematical impossibility.”
Dunn said the council will likely need to draw on the public safety local income tax to support EMS until a new tax structure takes effect in 2029. No member proposed changes to the EMS budget.
Jail and Sheriff staffing
Sheriff Brendon Bright said the jail has five open corrections officer positions and plans to fill three. Members agreed to leave all five in the budget with the understanding that the last two will remain unfilled until the federal inmate count rises again. The sheriff agreed to leave a retiring administrative position unfilled. The council added $25,000 for part-time help. “I’m not 100% okay with it, but I’m willing to work,” Bright said.
Highway funds and next steps
Highway Superintendent Rick Campbell requested a new patching machine to replace a 2005 model and said salt now costs $117 a ton. Jackie warned that the highway department’s nonrestricted fund is about $1 million short while the restricted fund is $2 million over. Council members asked for follow-up on whether the county’s pavement rating would allow it to shift more money to the nonrestricted fund.
Pending…
A vacant area plan position remains under review before the next meeting Oct. 13th.