Putnam County legislators approved a fund transfer to establish a preschool program manager position at the Fleming County Early Learning Center and approved supplemental budget transfers to contract agencies, lawmakers said during a recent legislative session.

The approvals, taken by voice vote, included a fund transfer for the county health department to create the new preschool program manager position and separate budgetary transfers of about $10,000 to a contract agency (PRPH) and about $15,000 to Careers, a local contract agency that provides adult and special-needs services. Lawmakers voted “Aye” when asked for approval.

Lawmakers and public commenters said the measures address both early childhood services and gaps in services for adults with special needs. A legislator described the preschool manager post as “the best investment we can make as a county to keep moving our county forward” and said structural issues around facility location remain to be solved. The same legislator said she supported locating additional early learning centers “on both sides of the county.”

Another speaker asked that Public Health Director Rodriguez continue searching for program sites on the county’s other side instead of limiting the program to its current site. Public commenters who identified themselves as parents and advocates urged more community-based services for adults and said programs such as Careers help keep people with disabilities in their home communities.

One commenter noted the county’s fiscal position while urging expanded services: “We’re sitting on $90,000,000 in our assigned fund balance. There’s more money to be had. I would love to see more initiatives bring that forward,” the commenter said.

Discussion-only items included questions about the location and the potential for additional early-learning sites; no change to the approved transfer was recorded on the floor. The approved transfers are for program operation and contract support; the legislature did not adopt additional policy changes in the same action.

Legislators indicated they will monitor implementation and site selection; staff direction or specific next steps were discussed but no formal staff assignment was recorded in the session minutes excerpt.

The votes were taken by voice; the record shows the measures carried by “Aye.” Detailed roll-call tallies and effective dates were not specified in the provided transcript.

Background: County-run early learning centers and contract agencies provide preschool and adult support services in Putnam County; the legislature periodically approves budget transfers to fund positions and to supplement contract agencies that report shortfalls.