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Sheriff says unexpected radar grant found after budget; commissioners discuss coding and budget impact
Summary
Keith County Sheriff’s office received a radar-specific grant after the county budget was set. Commissioners discussed where to code the grant, how it affects the sheriff’s equipment line (budgeted at $18,000), and whether to reflect the revenue and expense in the general fund to avoid later cuts.
The Keith County Board of Commissioners discussed a recently awarded radar equipment grant for law enforcement that became available after the sheriff’s office budget was finalized.
Sheriff Jeff told the board the radar grant “came available. We put in for it, and we got it,” and that the department did not plan for the grant during the budget process. He said the sheriff’s law enforcement equipment budget was originally $18,000 and that the grant is a radar-specific award.
Commissioners discussed how to reflect the grant in county accounting and which budget line should show the expense. One commissioner said the grant funds had been coded to the sheriff’s equipment line in the claims listing but recommended that the county record the revenue to the general fund under contributions and donations and then record the expense so the use of the grant is transparent in county accounting. “To reflect it as an expense because you don't have revenue in your budget…that’s where it’s gotta go,” a commissioner advised, describing the contributions/donations coding as the appropriate place to identify grant revenue.
Board members also raised budget-management concerns: the sheriff’s equipment line was projected to be heavily used and the county is tracking overall spending percentages for departments as the fiscal year progresses. Commissioners encouraged the sheriff to coordinate with the county clerk/treasurer’s office to ensure the grant is recorded correctly and suggested using budget authority procedures if the department later needs an adjustment.
No formal vote was required at the meeting; commissioners approved the payment of related claims by roll call and directed staff to code and document the grant appropriately.
