by Evelyn Pyburn
During mid-year budget review on Tuesday, Director of Finance Kevan Bryan asked county commissioners to reflect on that question before the mid-summer’s fiscal year budget hearings. The key to successfully managing the county’s budget, said Bryan, is the flexibility that long-term planning brings. “The role of the Finance Office is to make available as many options as possible to the board in making their decisions.”
Bryan pointed out that despite all that the county has done to meet demands for District Court, more courthouse remodeling and possible moving of additional personnel to Stillwater may be needed in the next 18-24 months. “While we find it unlikely that the Legislature will grant any additional District Court judges, needs in the area of the County Attorney and Clerk of District Court staffing to cope with increasing caseloads may require attention.”
Another point to ponder, suggested Bryan, is the long-term building needs over the next five to eight years to replace square footage currently leased in the Stillwater Building.
Also, demanding attention in the future will be Metra Park’s infrastructure needs and whether the commissioners want to fund those needs out of the General Fund.
A number of department heads attended the budget meeting to explain some of their needs, and reasons for shifting funds or needing additional funding.
In general the county is doing very well, reported Bryan. He reviewed the successes of the county in having been able to meet some extraordinary demands over the past two to three years. One of the biggest improvements in county financing over the past year was the resolution of the CHS tax protest, which allowed for the rebuilding of capital improvement funds, most especially that of the General Fund, the Sheriff’s Fund and the Road Fund.
