Commissioners set budget workshop dates, discuss sheriff funding and dismiss rumor about out-of-county trash dumping

Commissioners confirmed a budget workshop schedule that includes a constitutional-officers presentation next Thursday at 9:30 a.m. and an afternoon workshop and regular meeting on Jan. 30 focused on capital projects and year-end funding, staff said.

Board members discussed the county’s budget constraints and said there is insufficient money to fund all of the sheriff’s requests and existing county programs. Staff told the board they would present options when the constitutional officers and other agencies present their budgets; commissioners said they would then decide which programs to prioritize and where to cut if needed to reach a balanced budget.

Several commissioners also addressed a circulating rumor that Columbia County might accept trash from neighboring counties. Commissioners said there have been no agreements or decisions to accept outside trash and emphasized that any change would require lengthy permitting and interlocal discussion; one commissioner said he has no interest in bringing other counties’ trash into Columbia County and asked the record to reflect that position.

No formal votes were taken on budget allocations or landfill policy at the meeting; staff will return with budget options at the next workshops.