Butler County commissioners approve $15 million transfer to capital reserve, review 2025 capital projects

Butler County commissioners voted to move $15,000,000 from the general fund into a capital reserve account and reviewed a draft of the county’s 2025 capital improvement plan.

County staff said the capital reserve transfer is the third consecutive year the commissioners have funded the account to support projects now in planning or construction. The projects discussed included a consolidated morgue and administrative offices for the coroner and upgrades to the sheriff’s dispatch/911 system.

Administrator Boyko told commissioners a draft of the 2025 capital improvement plan (CIP) lists roughly $1.6 million in projects in Draw 2 that cover information systems, facility technology and building improvements, juvenile court needs and work for the 12th District Court. Boyko said one item — cleaning the building’s east and north exterior facades — came in with an estimate of about $570,000 and likely will be removed from the plan at the commissioners’ preference.

Dave McCormack, Butler County finance director, presented the formal cash-transfer item on the agenda and reiterated that approval of the $15,000,000 cash transfer is contingent on an accompanying appropriation entry on the transfers-out account. "I recommend approval," McCormack said about the financial report and related transfers.

McCormack also reviewed other budget items before the board: a $4,000,000 appropriation request for transfers out to provide supplemental funding to the county engineer for the 2025 paving and roadway maintenance program; contingency notes tied to several purchase orders and requisitions; and three purchase order change orders totaling $502,171.50. He flagged that several engineer-related purchases were contingent on appropriations to fund 0300 (motor vehicle fund) and that a requisition approval depended on a separate contract renewal with UKG Kronos, also on the agenda.

Commissioners approved the financial report and the appropriation items presented, with roll-call affirmative votes recorded for Commissioner Rogers and Commissioner Dixon. A motion was made and seconded to approve the cash transfer and related appropriations; the board carried the motion as presented.

The board also reviewed personnel and administrative items tied to county operations: amendments to departmental tables of organization to add a maintenance worker 3 position, a new administrative support position in the water and sewer department, temporary flexibility for the finance director to fill a budget analyst 1 or 2 position, and a reclassification for a development specialist to reflect added land-bank duties.

The commissioners directed staff to proceed with the paperwork needed to execute the transfer and to finalize the CIP after removing the façade-cleaning estimate if the board confirms that change in a follow-up action.

Votes at a glance - Transfer $15,000,000 from the general fund to the capital reserve fund — approved (roll-call: Commissioners Rogers and Dixon recorded as "yes"). - Approval of financial report and associated appropriations — approved.