The Cass County Board of Commissioners approved the county’s general fund in its second reading and passed omnibus motions covering nonbinding township budgets, while deferring approval of a proposed part‑time administrative assistant position until commissioners take separate action.

The approvals came by a series of voice votes and omnibus motions. Commissioners moved to approve the corrected general fund in second reading, then approved remaining county budgets and a combined package of nonbinding township budgets for jurisdictions that had submitted figures. Officials said Adams Township had not yet provided its figures and will be handled separately.

Why this matters: county budget approvals set spending levels for county departments, affect salary calculations used in the salary ordinance and set townships’ nonbinding guidance ahead of final appropriations.

In discussion, commissioners and staff reviewed line‑item adjustments and salary ordinance elements. They said longevity pay was removed and that base and part‑time pay buckets were adjusted; staff noted those salary figures are used when assembling the related salary ordinance for formal adoption. Commissioners also referenced an upcoming state minimum wage change in 2026 and said staff needs that figure to finalize certain calculations.

One personnel item — a part‑time administrative assistant position — was discussed but not approved during the meeting. Staff said that the position “still needs to be approved to the commissioners,” and the group deferred final action until that separate commissioner approval is completed. The transcript shows the group instructed staff to drop that position from the motions under consideration until approval is obtained.

Commissioners reviewed nonbinding budget submissions from a set of local entities and districts, including the Cass Public Library, the Cass County Solid Waste District and the Cass County Fire District, and approved those submissions on first screening. The packet also included local line items for entities named in the meeting record (listed in the minutes as Rock Creek, Carroll Conservatory District and several township submissions); Adams Township remained outstanding.

County staff also reported on one local provider’s state funding status. According to the meeting record, a program representative said she had submitted $236,133 to the state and expected to use an HLFI carryover of “$20.25” to cover a shortfall; staff said the state has not yet confirmed the provider’s final allotment. Commissioners noted that uncertainty in state funding affects final local budget figures for that program.

Votes and formal actions at the meeting were recorded as voice votes and omnibus approvals. For the general fund and the omnibus township package, the meeting record states motions carried. The meeting proceeded to a public‑comment period after the approvals.

Next steps: the board will await the Adams Township submission and a separate commissioner approval for the proposed part‑time administrative assistant before finalizing the county payroll and personnel ordinances. Staff signaled it will include the confirmed salary numbers and the state minimum‑wage change in the formal salary ordinance to be adopted later.