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2023-11-13 MINUTES 1 <br /> <br />KITTITAS COUNTY <br />BUDGET MEETING MINUTES <br />BOCC AUDITORIUM ROOM, 205 WEST 5TH ROOM 215 - ELLENSBURG <br /> <br /> <br />Monday 10:00AM November 13, 2023 <br /> <br />Board members present: Cory Wright, Brett Wachsmith, Laura Osiadacz <br /> <br />Staff: Brian Carlson, Bryan Elliot, Zack DeHaven, Reid Burbank, Andrew Yoder, Sarah Keith, <br />Todd Davis, Amy Cziske, Lisa Murray, Barb Demory, Patti Stacy, Elishia Harvill, Greg Zempel <br />Upper County Senior Center: Lori Nevin, Patty Nelson, Dorothy Wagsholm <br /> <br />1. Call to order: 10:01 AM <br />2. Citizen Comments (1 min. time limit): None <br /> <br />3. 2024 Preliminary Budget Update <br />Mr. Carlson updated the board on the current status of the General Fund deficit. Current <br />General Fund deficit projection is $5.9 MM with 60% of the “Bake Sale” complete. <br />Chairman Wright asked if the current projected General Fund deficit included a non <br />bargained COLA percentage and if so at what percent. The percentage reflected in the <br />update was confirmed to be 3%. <br /> <br />4. 2024 COLA for Exempt Staff <br />Mr. Carlson presented a methodology for standardizing the Exempt COLA not only for <br />the 2024 budget but also for future budgets. A multi-year averaging of percentage <br />change of both the Western States CPI and County’s selected revenue profile. The <br />exercise is focused on generating an equitable, sustainable, and easily repeatable process <br />for standardizing COLA considerations. Auditor Elliot took a moment to recognize staff <br />for the quality of analysis and highlighted that this methodology was aimed at solving <br />this issue not just for 2024 but beyond. Prosecutor Zempel stressed the lack of steps for <br />exempt employees and how this causes their compensation to fall behind bargained <br />positions. Chairman Wright reminded the room that steps for Exempt staff are also