Butler County approves transfers and appropriations including VAWA match, coroner vehicle and TIF school payments

At the Sept. 2 meeting the Butler County Board of Commissioners approved finance items presented by Finance Director Dave McCormick, including cash transfers, budget transfers and purchase orders.

Why it matters: The actions allocate grant matches and appropriations for public-safety and court operations and authorize TIF-related school payments that affect county cash flow and contract obligations.

Finance Director Dave McCormick outlined the packet. The board approved a cash transfer of $18,039.07 from the general fund to the Sheriff Victim Assistance Fund as the county’s annual cash match for the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA/VAWA-related grant) program. McCormick also presented transfers and appropriations: the Twelfth District Court requested a $10,000 budget transfer for furniture and furnishings; the Coroner requested $13,000 additional appropriations for a vehicle to be funded by the annual coroner grant; the Sheriff requested $55,000 in Fund 1410 (dog and kennel) funded by a grant; Juvenile Court requested $50,000 in Fund 1454 for mental evaluations and electronic monitoring; and Commissioners Finance requested $225,000 in Fund 2010 (University Point TIF) and $35,000 in Fund 2012 (Highland Square TIF) for second-half school district payments.

McCormick also presented purchase-order change orders totaling $613,850 and requisitions of $243,379.21; most items were within current approved budgets, with two items contingent on approval of the appropriations on the transfers and appropriations report. When a commissioner asked whether a $163,000 Village of Seven Mile fire-hydrant expense tied to ARPA-funded sewer improvements, staff said it did not appear to be tied to ARPA and that the fire-hydrant work was part of a separate community project.

A commissioner moved to approve the finance resolutions as submitted; the motion was seconded and approved with recorded “yes” votes from Commissioner Carpenter, Commissioner Rogers and Commissioner Dixon.

Clarifying details: the VAWA match transfer is $18,039.07; coroner vehicle appropriation $13,000 to be funded by the annual coroner grant; sheriff dog-and-kennel appropriation $55,000 (grant-funded); juvenile court appropriation $50,000 for mental evaluations/electronic monitoring; University Point TIF $225,000 and Highland Square TIF $35,000 for school district payments; purchase order change orders total $613,850; requisitions total $243,379.21.

Ending: The board approved the finance items and instructed staff to process the transfers and purchase orders as presented.