County budget process starts for another year

YORK – With the 2024-25 fiscal year nearing its close, it’s also time for the York County Commissioners and the county’s budget committee to tackle the task of formulating the budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year.

​York County Commissioner Chairman Randy Obermier, York County Commissioner Daniel Grotz, York County Treasurer Megan Williams and York County Clerk Mary Melby make up the budget committee.
“We have started the process and we are asking department heads and elected officials to submit their proposed, preliminary budgets by July 1,” Obermier explained to his fellow commissioners. “We should have a rough copy of the budget to the board members by Aug. 1 and then we will discuss it at length during the meetings in August.”
The commissioners approve the county’s budget at the end of August/start of September each year.
Also during this week’s county board meeting:

• Obermier said he attended the regular meeting of the York County Visitors Bureau Board of Directors and one of those seats will be changing this summer. He said a couple small project grant applications came in, as did requests for small amounts to assist towns in advertising their summer celebrations.
• The board signed off on two updated interlocal agreements with Apace and Region 5 Systems. In the past, the agreement was between the county and the two entities in a single document. Now the county has a separate agreement for each entity, per the entities’ request.
• The board signed off on a statutorily required financial contribution of $28,000 for Region V Systems. The organization had asked for $32,000, but the commissioners noted they have not yet put together the budget for the next fiscal year and it has not been determined whether they will be willing or able to give the organization an extra $4,000.
• York County Veterans Service Officer Nick Wollenburg told the commissioners Tom Vaught will be stepping down from his position on the Veterans Service Committee. “He has been representing Bradshaw on the board for the last 25 years and he says it’s now time to retire. He is almost 90 years old. He has recommended Mike Teichmeier to take the seat and Mike has said he is willing to serve.” The commissioners approved the appointment of Teichmeier for a 5-year term.
• Wollenburg also talked about the process of moving Memorial Day services in York and Fillmore Counties from cemeteries to indoor locations – but he was also pleased to see pretty good attendance in the new locations. The rain and cool temperatures promoted most if not all the Memorial Day services in the area to be moved inside. He said in the many years he’s been the county’s veterans service officer, this was the first time he gave the keynote address inside and not in a cemetery.
• The commissioners signed off on an interlocal agreement with other entities for services from Zuercher. This is a cloud-based service used by 911 emergency communications and law enforcement agencies.
• Commissioner Grotz said he recently attended a meeting of all the county’s department heads and he would be attending a meeting of the board for the York County Development Corporation.
• Commissioner LeRoy Ott said he attended the most recent veterans service committee meeting.
• Commissioner Andy Bowman talked about the work being done by the new board for the county’s historical society.
• York County Highway Superintendent Harvey Keim said the roads department continues to haul gravel, blade roads and crack seal. He noted the rains have softened up the road surfaces, “but we aren’t going to complain because we really need the rain.”
• As the board of equalization, they approved a motor vehicle exemption for York General for a 2025 Chevy to be used by home health staff. This was also recommended by the county treasurer.