The Monroe County Council convened for the first session of the 2025 budget work session, focusing on departmental budget requests. Council President Trent Decker opened the meeting, confirming the presence of all council members and outlining the agenda.

A key discussion point was the inclusion of a $1.5 million adjustment for community crossings in the budget. Councilor Hock emphasized the necessity of adding this item to the agenda, noting that it could no longer be allocated from the rainy day fund and must instead be sourced from the general fund. The council unanimously agreed to amend the agenda to include this item.

Decker reminded attendees that this session is part of the budget review process and not the final approval of the budget. The public hearing for the 2025 Monroe County annual budget is scheduled for October 8 at 5 PM, with final adoption set for October 28 at 5 PM. During these sessions, departments will present their budget requests, allowing for questions and discussions to clarify their needs.

The council expressed appreciation for the cooperation of the departments involved in the budget review process, setting the stage for a collaborative approach to the upcoming budget discussions.