Department heads warned commissioners that overtime use, short‑term funded vacancies and rising fuel and service costs are squeezing the 2026 introduced budget; directors were asked to prioritize critical hires and provide vacancy/fill memos.

Finance and HR officials told commissioners the county faces a roughly $22 million increase in 2026 health‑insurance costs and continued worker‑comp pressure; commissioners asked for outside analysis of alternatives and noted a roughly $18 million exit cost to leave the state plan.