Wood County commissioners dug into personnel requests Monday as they work on finalizing the proposed 2024-25 county budget.

They will meet Thursday at 9 a.m. to discuss a proposed property tax rate as well as to schedule the required public hearings on the budget and on any new tax revenues.

County Judge Kevin White reviewed the last three years of tax revenues, “to put this into perspective.”

The county tax rate in 2023 was 48.25 cents per $100 valuation and generated $1,464,000 in additional revenue with $447,000 coming from new properties.

Last year, after lowering the tax rate two cents, the county gained $2,036,000 in additional revenue, and $584,000 was from new property.

This year, only $659,000 in new revenue would be generated if the tax rate stays the same, although the amount of new revenue grew to $699,000.

The no-new revenue tax rate is 45.59 cents while the county could go to 49.03 cents before seeking voter approval.

The three largest items impacting the budget are increased health insurance costs, an additional $107,000 contribution to the budget of the Wood County tax appraisal district and a planned 4% cost-of-living raise for employees.

Those three effectively use up the additional revenue.

White said the county’s fund balance should be all right, with only three primary expenses coming out of that, the planned county jail expansion, renovations to the old tax office and $300,000 set aside if more voting equipment is needed.

Auditor Terri Sellars said the budget proposal is basically balanced without any new personnel.

A position in the commissioners’ office was added last year to assist with grants but not filled.

They agreed the position needs to be filled.

A suggestion from Commissioner Russell Acker, who serves as the facilities coordinator, to add a facilities manager was approved, with the funds coming from the four road-and-bridge precinct budget plus the facilities budget.

Acker said he has not developed a job description, but one of the requirements will be  commercial drivers license.

A request for a new clerk in the district clerk’s office was instead approved for additional part-time help from special funds.

No final decision was made  Monday on a request to increase hours for the part-time veterans services officer.

Commissioner Mike Simmons said that is cutting the public off from services by not having the officer available enough hours.

They did approve a request from Precinct One Justice of the Peace Tony Gilbreath to elevate one of his clerks to court coordinator.

Other requests to move remaining justice of the peace clerks up one level received no support.

Extra part-time help in the treasurer’s and tax collector’s offices were okayed, and changing a technician in the IT department from hourly to salaried met approval.

Commissioners planned to visit further with Sheriff Kelly Cole about a request to add a dispatcher.