Seward County Commissioners called department leaders to the courthouse on Aug. 25, asking each one to review their 2026-27 budget again to find an additional 1 percent cut.
The county is nearing its Sept. 4 deadline to submit its budget numbers to the county auditor for calculation of the potential tax levy to be shared with Seward County residents with the “pink postcard” mailing in the next few weeks. (The county-wide pink postcard hearing is Sept. 21.)
For smaller departments, like the Seward County Treasurer’s office, the majority of budget is devoted to staff. Several responded to the request with the statement that they did not know where else in their budgets the cuts could be found.
Commission Chair Misty Ahmic told leaders they did not expect cuts in wages or positions, but want departments to “do your best” to trim a bit more off the budget given the circumstances the county has found itself in this year.
She said the commissioners have cut their own budget, as well, eliminating travel and registration fees for meetings except for the new member of the commission, Jonathan Curtis, who will attend one conference for training.
County Clerk Brandy Johnson said Aug. 28 that several department leaders have resubmitted their budgets with additional cuts.
“It has been a lot,” she said of the budgeting process. “Most people are being really awesome and helpful.”
The county’s situation is complicated, and though Ahmic has told the department leaders that it may take a few years to get their budgets back to where they think they should be, she also said in a later interview she is optimistic that the county will work everything out.
“We have to look at the long-term sustainability of the county,” she said in one budget conversation Aug. 25.
The county’s revenue is a mix of property taxes, state and federal funding, grants and fees. Many of its budget items are mandated by the state. Most departments get all or part of their budgets from the county’s general fund, which is comprised of property tax revenues.
The commissioners have not budgeted for new equipment in the roads department, but have utilized other funds to purchase necessary equipment in recent months and will use a state levy exception clause to get additional tax funds to pay for the remaining two-thirds owed on a $339,000 camera and security system replacement at the Seward County Justice Center.
That tax fund exception is available because the jail is included in the state’s public safety exclusions – which only includes the jail, sheriff’s department, 911 operations and county attorney.
Commissioners have also decreased funding they have shared with partnering organizations in the past for some services, such as the Southeast Nebraska Development District, Blue Valley Community Action, Court Appointed Special Advocates and others. Commissioners represent the county on several of these organizations’ boards.
Commissioner Raegan Hain said she is concerned about the ripple effect the tight budget constraints will have on the county going forward.
“We have been working so hard to try to get to the point where we are being fiscally responsible and yet still able to function,” she said. “These conversations are hard.”
Commissioner Scott Pekarek said the budget would be “skin and bones for a while.”
“I don’t like it, but I don’t see that we have a lot of choices right now,” he said.
Commissioner Darrell Zabrocki said the department leaders’ involvement is important.
“It has got to come one way or another. We are asking you (department leaders) to identify where that is going to come from,” he said.
Ahmic said commissioners have asked for the same budget cuts in all departments.
“I do not think we would ask another department to do what we would not do,” she said of the commissioners’ efforts to cut their own budgets as well.
“It is a chess game of trying to be fiscally responsible and having the staff to do the services,” Ahmic said. “Ultimately we will get through this.”
