Budget Hearing Meeting – VSO, September 30, 2026
Main Subject
The primary focus of the September 30, 2026 VSO budget hearing was a two-person office trying to finish at a $162,687 working total — main VSO salary moving from $62,500 to $72,000, a second VSO (Courtney) at about $18 an hour with a grade step after one year, travel jumping from $1,000 to $5,000 for a national conference — while the state stipend is budgeted at $30,000 against a history that never cleared $19,000, the office skipped the state grant because of a $2 million statewide cut, and this hearing sits on the same day the regular BOCC approved the Deputy VSO job description 2–1.
Summary
This was the Veterans Service Officer budget hearing on September 30, 2026. Finance walked the sheet with the VSO and staff. No roll-call votes. No public comment. This is the VSO office. It is not the $400,000 countywide hole. The same day’s regular BOCC meeting approved the Deputy VSO job description 2–1 (Paul and Canda aye, Lucas no) because Lucas wanted an initial veteran requirement. This hearing is the money that would fund that second seat.
There are two money piles. The first is the VSO office itself. The working 2027 total discussed is $162,687. The second is restricted or discretionary money that does not belong in the general-fund column: the state stipend, donations used at the VSO’s discretion for widows and widowers, and the Veterans Trust Fund grant the Legion and VFW applied for. Mixing those piles is how a $162,000 office starts to look like an open check.
Revenue is thin. The state stipend is budgeted at $30,000 for two staff. The historical high cited in the room was $19,000 in 2003 when there was one VSO. A change in law now caps stipend claims at 40 hours a week; the old practice of reporting 60-hour weeks is gone. Distribution depends on how many counties file. Donations year-to-date are $4,055; the 2027 line was cut to $3,000 to stay conservative. Donations are used for widows and widowers — firewood, stoves, tires. Two widows have already asked for $500 each in firewood. One veteran donated $2,600 after a VA increase; that is not treated as normal. The office did not apply for the state grant this cycle because of a $2 million statewide cut. The local Legion and VFW applied for the Veterans Trust Fund grant; 10% of those funds can assist widows and widowers (about $1,500 was named). The LATC grant line is zeroed.
Expense lines moved. The main VSO salary goes from $62,500 to $72,000. Courtney, the second VSO, is projected near $18 an hour — about $17.51–$17.54 at Grade 1 from January through September, then a step to Grade 2 after one year. The combined salary line was discussed near $114,000. Benefits run about 32 cents for every dollar of salary. Health insurance is high and will apply to the new hire; it does not currently apply to the existing VSO in the same way. Travel rises from $1,000 to $5,000 so the office can attend a national conference (flights and hotels, Colorado Springs was named). IT / communications is being split into a separate data-processing line. The current IT support was called ineffective in the room. Outreach for widows was discussed at a $15,000 wish against about $1,500 actually available through VTF.
No motion closed the $162,687 total, the $72,000 salary, the second-VSO step, or the travel increase. Next steps named were the audit adjustment on the 2025 stipend, the Legion/VFW handling of the VTF grant, and the Deputy VSO posting that the regular meeting approved 2–1 the same day.
Key Points
Meeting
- VSO budget hearing, September 30, 2026.
- Finance and the VSO in the room. Courtney named as the second VSO.
- No roll-call votes. No public comment.
- Same-day regular BOCC approved the Deputy VSO job description 2–1 (Paul and Canda aye, Lucas no). This hearing is the money for that seat.
Two piles — do not mash them
- VSO office working total: $162,687.
- State stipend, donations, and VTF grant money are restricted or discretionary. They are not general-fund revenue.
- Mixing the piles is how a $162,000 office looks like an open check.
Revenue
- State stipend budgeted at $30,000 for two staff.
- Historical high cited: $19,000 in 2003 with one VSO.
- Law change caps stipend claims at 40 hours a week. Old 60-hour reporting is gone.
- Donations year-to-date: $4,055. 2027 line cut to $3,000.
- Donations used at VSO discretion for widows and widowers (firewood, stoves, tires). Two widows have asked for $500 each.
- State grant not applied for because of a $2 million statewide cut.
- Legion and VFW applied for the Veterans Trust Fund grant. About 10% (roughly $1,500 named) can assist widows and widowers.
- LATC grant line: zeroed.
Expense lines
- Main VSO salary: $62,500 → $72,000.
- Second VSO (Courtney): about $18 an hour. Grade 1 roughly $17.51–$17.54 January–September, then Grade 2 after one year.
- Combined salary line discussed near $114,000.
- Benefits: about 32 cents per salary dollar. Health insurance applies to the new hire.
- Travel: $1,000 → $5,000 for a national conference.
- IT / communications being split into a data-processing line. Current support called ineffective.
- Outreach for widows discussed at a $15,000 wish against about $1,500 available through VTF.
What was not decided
- No motion on the $162,687 total.
- No motion locking the $72,000 salary or the second-VSO step schedule.
- No motion on the $5,000 travel line.
- No final audit number on the 2025 stipend.
- No decision on whether the Deputy VSO posting will reopen if no veteran applies (that fight was in the regular meeting, not here).
- Next steps named: audit adjustment on the stipend, Legion/VFW handling of VTF, and the posting the board approved 2–1 the same day.
Summarized Transcription
Finance put the VSO sheet on the table. Working total is $162,687. The main VSO salary moves from $62,500 to $72,000. Courtney comes in near $18 an hour with a step after one year. Combined salaries were discussed around $114,000. Benefits run about 32 cents on the dollar. Travel jumps from $1,000 to $5,000 for a national conference.
The state stipend is budgeted at $30,000. The historical high named in the room was $19,000 in 2003. A law change now caps claims at 40 hours a week. Donations are $4,055 so far and were cut to $3,000 for the budget. The office skipped the state grant because of a $2 million statewide cut. The Legion and VFW applied for the Veterans Trust Fund grant instead. LATC is zero.
This hearing is the same day the regular BOCC approved the Deputy VSO job description 2–1. Lucas voted no because the posting does not require a veteran. No vote here on the $162,687. The small office is trying to become a two-person office. The stipend history and the skipped grant are not hidden.
