The spending mix changes more than the top line
Planning appropriations rise from $10,614,717 in fiscal 2024–25 actual results to $12,028,486 in the adopted 2025–26 plan. The $1,413,769 increase equals 13.3%.
Inside that total, salaries and benefits rise $1,878,600, or 27.7%, while services and supplies fall $831,685, or 20.7%. A new $414,406 other-financing-use line also appears.
| Measure | FY 2024–25 actual | FY 2025–26 adopted | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $7.09M | $7.74M | +9.2% |
| Salaries and benefits | $6.79M | $8.67M | +27.7% |
| Services and supplies | $4.02M | $3.18M | −20.7% |
| Other financing uses | $0 | $414,406 | +$414,406 |
| Net county cost | $3.53M | $4.29M | +21.6% |
Fee revenue grows, permit revenue declines
Charges for services rise $371,041 to just over $6 million. Licenses and permits fall $125,156, while other financing sources rise $412,209. Total projected revenue increases $651,625.
Costs still grow faster than receipts, lifting the magnitude of net county cost by $762,144 to $4,290,981. The plan therefore combines a shift toward payroll with a larger county contribution.
The records do not show whether reviews speed up
The original finding is the reallocation from purchased services toward employee compensation, not merely a 13% increase. The payroll rise exceeds the total budget growth because lower services and reimbursements offset part of it.
Schedule 9 does not state authorized or filled positions, permit volume, environmental-review workload, project delays or processing times. Those records are required before linking the financial shift to faster or slower service.
Method and limitations
The newsroom compared the printed actual and adopted columns for budget unit 2750 and recomputed all differences. The separate General Plan surcharge and Oil and Gas Program funds were not folded into the operating-unit total.
A budget is a plan, and fee revenue can change with development activity. Later payroll, contract and performance records will be needed to determine whether the planned reallocation occurred and what it produced.