County labor union says there is enough money for a COLA.

As the fiscal year draws to a close, the Board of Supervisors is hearing from the county Executive Office that the current financial approach is not sustainable. With department head positions vacant and a healthcare plan deficit that has still not been fully quantified, supervisors discussed labor costs, relationships with non-profit organizations, and the use of one-time funding to balance the budget.

Supervisor John Haschak said he was "very concerned" about the Cannabis Department's projected budget overage of $662k, and a multi-million reporting error in a $17.5 million state grant.

The Board of Supervisors discussed the health plan deficit, the growing costs of the jail construction project, and the value of county parks.

The Board of Supervisors sped up the hiring process of a high-level analyst for Treasurer-Tax Collector/Auditor Controller Chamise Cubbison's office at this week's meeting and directed the CEO's office to conduct additional reviews of reports before sending them on to Cubbison.

The Board of Supervisors learned last week that $10.2 million was borrowed from an unknown account to cover the deficit in the county's self-funded healthcare plan. Even after using $4.6 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to reduce the shortfall, the deficit remains at $5.6 million.

The Board of Supervisors received a verbal lashing from Auditor-Controller Treasurer-Tax Collector Chamise Cubbison during a discussion about timely financial reports.

Union members expressed skepticism that the county can't afford higher pay. Public comments and correspondence from department heads and citizens' groups are no longer attached to meeting agendas, ostensibly because the county can't afford clerks.

The Council decided the financial outlook is poor for a 3/8 cent sales tax for workforce housing to succeed in the next election, especially with two other taxes on the November ballot.

CEO Darcie Antle reflects on the county's finances, from high debt rising interest rates, and missing reimbursements from FEMA, to the economic effects of COVID and the worldwide economic downturn.