Walworth County Commission tightens the budget

The county budget was the main topic of discussion for the Walworth County Commission at Tuesday’s meeting (Sept. 7^th).  Several cuts were made, including the county health nurse, northeast mental health services, and money to senior citizen centers.  Courthouse employees agreed to drop family, dental, and vision insurance benefits, as well as not accepting a pay raise.  Commissioner Kevin Holgard was determined to cut employee positions around the courthouse and sheriff’s department and made motions that ended up failing.  Holgard was not willing to have cuts made to his county-paid health insurance.

Not all commissioners take the county’s insurance benefit, but Commission Chairman Jim Houck said that is the biggest complaint he hears.

Commissioner Rick Cain said his goal in the discussion was to have at least one million dollars in reserve after budget.

Commissioner Duane Mohr made a motion to keep all county employees in place, with Sheriff Josh Boll volunteering to make do with five transport officers instead of six.

Mohr’s motion passed unanimously, and the commission then passed a motion to adopt the county budget.