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<br />2024-10-24 MINUTES 1 <br /> <br />KITTITAS COUNTY <br />BUDGET MEETING MINUTES <br />BOCC AUDITORIUM ROOM, 205 WEST 5TH ROOM 215 - ELLENSBURG <br />Special Meeting <br /> <br />Thursday 2:00PM October 24, 2024 <br /> <br />Board members present: Brett Wachsmith, Laura Osiadacz (Absent), Cory Wright <br /> <br />Staff: Brian Carlson, Budget and Finance Director, Bryan Elliott, Auditor, Sue Patterson, Greg <br />Zempel, Prosecuting Attorney, Elishia Harvill, Nick Henderson, Coroner, Cori McKean, Katrina <br />Mankus, Eileen Murphy, Amy Cziske, Treasure, Kylee Wuesthoff, Kady Porterfield, Patti <br />Stacey, Chad Bala, Josh Fredrickson, Grant Shimada, Chelsey Pedersen, Chelsey Loeffers <br />Other: Pat Kelleher <br />1. Call to order: 2;00PM <br /> <br />2. Citizen Comments (1 min. time limit): Pat Kelleher <br />Mr. Kelleher would like a $100,000 annual place holder in the Capital Improvement projects <br />budget for the Bureau of Land Management and the Yakima River. He is also seeking Lodging <br />Tax funds. <br /> <br />3. Item #3 Pulled <br /> <br />4. 2025 Preliminary Budget Meetings-Continuation of Budget Discussions <br />Mr. Carlson discussed the 2025 Budget Summary. The current proposed General Fund deficit is <br />$7.8 MM with a Structural Deficit of $4.5MM. Commissioner Wright discussed the Capital <br />Improvements Plan and use of REET 1 funding for the courthouse. Follow-up research was <br />needed to confirm whether the funds qualify. A potential reduction to vacancy savings that have <br />historically been realized in the General Fund was discussed. Commissioner Wachsmith asked <br />the room for feedback. Chad Bala (CDS) stated they have vacant positions that can be frozen if <br />the cost savings would help with the current deficit. Chelsey Loeffers (Public Health Department) <br />requested the Board take into consideration not all activities/vacancies are funded through the <br />General Fund, highlighting that consolidation in certain areas may not be a benefit to the <br />General Fund deficit. Steve Panattoni (Corrections) discussed the current bed space available to <br />accommodate more inmates and the costs associated with a larger jail population. The <br />availability of grant opportunities to support an increase in the inmate population was discussed. <br />Patti Stacey (Solid Waste) voiced concerns about the reallocation of interest and the impact to <br />special revenue funds. Ms. Stacey expressed that the interest earned from invested money was