Howard County Council on Sept. 23 approved an amended additional-appropriations ordinance, a set of transfers among departmental budget lines and an amendment to the county salary ordinance that adjusts staffing line items for 2025.

The actions followed presentations by department representatives explaining why funds should move between existing budget lines rather than increasing the county's overall spending authority. Council approved the measures by voice vote; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the public transcript.

The council first considered Ordinance No. 2025-HCCO-33, described in the meeting as additional appropriations to cover outstanding travel and opioid-related spending. Auditor-led text presented the ordinance with itemized amounts, including a Superior Court 1 travel and training appropriation originally listed as $21,000 and opioid fund appropriations described as $87,466.72 (restricted) and $14,121.90 (unrestricted). During discussion, Judge Elkins told the council she had identified transfers within court accounts that reduced the Superior Court's additional request; Judge Elkins said the court's remaining additional-appropriation request would be approximately $3,500. Councilman Faulkner moved approval of the ordinance with that correction; Councilman Sanders seconded. The council approved the ordinance by voice vote.

The council then approved Resolution No. 2025-HCCR-18, allowing transfers from one major budget classification to another within departments. Multiple department representatives described the specific transfers:

- Major Gary Cook of the sheriff's office said the sheriff requested $4,838.31 be moved from a SWAT supplies line to travel and training to send the SWAT team to a three-day training in Muncie in November. "We are requesting a transfer from the SWAT supplies line item over to travel and training, at the amount of $4,838.31," Major Cook said.

- David Granger of the coroner's office requested moving $1,300 from three accounts into "other supplies" to cover increased costs for mortuary supplies, citing inflation-driven price increases.

- Superior Court 1 (Judge Elkins) described additional small intra-department transfers to cover remaining travel and training expenses for the year after reallocating funds internally.

- Andy Vanden Bosch of the public defender's office asked to transfer $15,094.74 from equipment to office-supplies lines. Vanden Bosch said the office historically budgeted differently between equipment and supplies and that the transfer would cover items ranging from software and printers to chairs and other office needs; he said the change will be reflected in 2026 budgets. "Pretty much anything they need in their office," Vanden Bosch said when asked how the supplies line is used.

- Bill Stone from maintenance requested a transfer of $70,000 from a Tech 1 line to maintenance labor to cover current labor cost needs after two expected promotions did not occur because employees left and were replaced. Stone said the transfer is not a pay increase versus plan but is necessary to cover labor payroll in 2025.

After hearing from each department, Councilwoman Lake moved to approve the transfer resolution; Councilman Alexander seconded. The council approved the resolution by voice vote.

The council also approved Ordinance No. 2025-HCCO-34, a salary-authorization amendment that shifted staffing line items for 2025. The amendment listed, among other changes, a $70,000 reduction in a Tech 1 line and a corresponding $70,000 increase to maintenance labor, and a $2,000 reduction in Superior Court 1 part-time clerical. Councilman Cuthbert moved the salary ordinance amendment and Councilman Roberts seconded; the council approved it by voice vote.

Votes and formal motions in the meeting were recorded as voice votes; no roll-call vote counts were provided in the transcript. Where motions included named movers and seconders, the transcript identified them in open session (for example, Faulkner moved and Sanders seconded the amended additional-appropriations ordinance).

The council's actions reallocated existing appropriations and did not, in the public record from this meeting, create new ongoing programs or appropriate funds conditioned on external approvals. Several presenters and council members said the transfers were housekeeping to align spending lines with where expenses have already occurred or will occur this year.

Council members scheduled the next final budget hearing for Oct. 9 at 4 p.m. and set the next regular council meeting for Oct. 28 at 4 p.m.