Washington County accepts multiple public-safety grants, refers EMS implementation costs and a budget amendment to finance

Washington County commissioners on Oct. 12 accepted and recognized a series of public-safety grants, referred implementation and startup costs for further review by the finance committee, and voted to update a prior resolution to meet State Department of Health language requirements.

The actions were taken during a regular county meeting where staff presented four items: unspent emergency-management grant funds for 2023; a notice of a 2024 NPG grant; a $500,000 state EMS support grant; and a proposed update/rescission of a previously passed resolution to include language required by the State Department of Health.

Why it matters: The grants provide new or carryover money for emergency management and EMS services; staff warned some necessary startup and consumable costs are not covered by the grants and will need separate funding. Commissioners moved the funding items to finance so department lines and implementation costs can be finalized.

What commissioners approved and referred

- Emergency-management carryover: County staff asked the board to forward unspent grant funds for the county’s 2023 emergency-management award—described as for domestic terrorism and hazard mitigation purposes—to the finance committee for allocation. The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

- NPG grant recognition: The board recognized a 2024 NPG grant of $26,560. That recognition was seconded and approved by voice vote.

- County EMS support grant: The board approved moving a $500,000 grant from the state for the county EMS program to finance. Staff said the $500,000 will be broken down into equipment and personnel lines; final line-item numbers will be provided to finance. The motion to refer the item to finance was approved by voice vote.

- Resolution language update: Staff reported the State Department of Health requires specific language in the county’s previously passed resolution related to the EMS grant. Commissioners approved sending a revision (including rescinding the prior resolution with a one-paragraph rescission statement) to the board so staff can update the document to match the Department of Health’s required wording.

Costs not covered by grants

Staff warned the grant awards do not cover one-time consumable medical supplies (bandages, single-use items and certain medications). To begin program operations, staff estimated an immediate startup need of about $45,000 for consumables and other items the grant will not fund. Commissioners approved a referral to finance for that startup funding; staff said some drugs consumed in the field are restocked by hospitals and billed to patients, but not all consumables are reimbursable through the grant.

Budget amendment referral

During the meeting staff reported the county faces a shortfall on the expense side and moved a separate finance referral to amend the 02/2024 budget. The requested amendment amount discussed was $751,675 to make an assigned county office whole for additional costs; commissioners voted to send that amendment request to finance for review.

Staff briefing and next steps

County staff said they will provide detailed line-item allocations for the $500,000 EMS grant, finalize language for the revised resolution to meet the State Department of Health’s requirements, and supply finance with the $45,000 startup justification. Commissioners sent the listed items to the finance committee for formal appropriation and detailed budget adjustments.

Votes at a glance: the meeting recorded voice votes on each motion. No roll-call tallies were provided in the transcript; items on the floor were approved by voice vote: emergency-management carryover (approved), NPG grant recognition $26,560 (approved), $500,000 EMS support grant referral to finance (approved), referral to finance for approximately $45,000 startup (approved), and referral to finance for a $751,675 budget amendment (approved).

Meeting context: The grant and budget items were presented as administrative and finance referrals; commissioners did not adopt final appropriations during the meeting. Staff indicated further, more detailed budget work would return to finance for formal appropriation actions.