Commission approves midyear transfers including $600,000 from transportation balancing fund

The Fremont County Board of Commissioners approved several midyear budget transfers across county departments, including $600,000 from a transportation balancing fund to cover a gap between the Transportation Department’s expenditures and revenues.

County staff outlined the transfers during a public hearing. Julie (county finance/administration staff) explained the transfers were largely technical corrections and adjustments tied to revenues and expenditures that differ from earlier estimates. The approved transfers included modest additions to the Extension Office and coroner accounts, an increase to an auditor service line, a correction to a TANF grant figure, and the larger transfer to transportation’s operating accounts from the county’s road-and-bridge balancing account.

Julie and transportation staff said the balancing account contained restricted transportation revenues — fuel taxes, secure rural schools receipts and similar sources — that had accumulated in prior years when revenues exceeded expenditures. The $600,000 transfer will be restricted to transportation-eligible uses and will be used only to the extent necessary to balance the department’s year‑end accounts, staff said.

Commissioners asked whether the funds remained restricted and whether the audit would accept the transfer; staff confirmed the monies are restricted and that auditors had been advised. Commissioners also discussed the recent shortfall in secure rural schools receipts and timber-related revenues that had increased the need to draw on the balancing account.

The commission voted to approve the transfers. Staff said they will move only the amount required to balance transportation accounts and will continue to report revenues and expenditures in future budget updates.