In study session with County Commissioners Tuesday morning County Administrator Matt Patzner gave a financial update for the year through February.

The numbers Patzner gave the board of commissioners were compared to the same timeframe in 2023. Property tax collections are down about 5% so far, which Patzner contributed to tax statement confusion.

Delinquent collections are down 25% with 2023 being an above average year. County Treasurer Jim Jordan added that delinquent taxes collections run in hills and valleys so the number was not unusual.

“Sheriff ’s Department revenues are up almost 80% this year by more than doubling the prisoner keep revenue from this time last year.” Patzner noted. County Attorney revenue is also up considerably at nearly 10 times from the same time period in 2023 which is attributed to a significant increase in diversion fees which is up by about $10,000.

Sales tax revenue is up 18% at $51,000 and compensated use tax collections are up 18% at just under $12,000.

General fund expenditures are up 6.22% which Patzner explained is due to an extra payroll date versus last year through February which had four.

The next financial update will include through March and will include payments for changes to the County’s liability insurance which increased significantly after being dropped by their previous insurance provider in November. The county previously paid $300,000 per year in premiums but the company that had carried insurance for the county in 2023 quoted the county for continued coverage in 2024 at $1 million. Another bid for insurance the County received and approved was just under $600,000.

 The payment schedule of the new insurance policy which was approved in December requires the county to pay in full for some premiums instead of quarterly like it had been in the past. Treasurer Jordan did give a bit of reprieve to this budget woe saying that his office will again hit $1 million in interest earnings for the county which the budget only estimated $500,000.

Payroll expenses for the county are up 5.24% with overtime expenses up 21%.

“Overtime expenses are up 21% this year compared to last year, most of this increase can be attributed to the sheriff ’s office with an increase of 391 hours. So far, communications is up 116 hours.

The treasurer’s office three and a half hours, and Road & Bridge are up 47 and a half hours,” Patzner said. Commissioner Zimmerman asked why the Sheriff ’s office had such a large increase in overtime and if the increase was due to being short handed.

Patzner said he called Sheriff Bellendir that morning who said he would look into the discrepancy. It was noted that overtime for the sheriff ’s office usually hovers plus or minus 7% but the increase so far this year is up nearly 40%.

“We’ve got to go through the time sheets and get answers to what that can be attributed to. I know that they’re short handed right now, but I know that they were also short handed last year this time,” Patzner said.