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County staff to present invoices for courtroom laptops; commissioners identify nonbudgeted funds for equipment
Summary
The county attorney requested three laptops for courtroom use ahead of a November go-live date; commissioners and staff discussed using equipment reserves and nonbudgeted funds (special parks, alcohol, opioid settlement accounts) for technology and other small capital needs.
During the budget work session the county attorney asked commissioners for guidance on purchasing three laptops to support a courtroom system scheduled to go live Nov. 3. The county attorney asked whether to include capital outlay in the office budget or to submit an invoice for the equipment so the county can fund the purchase from available equipment reserves.
“I'm going to need 3 more laptops because they'll be used in court,” the county attorney said, asking staff how to proceed. A finance staff member responded: “Present us an invoice. Just get us an invoice,” and said the county has equipment-reserve funds and about $9,000 in capital outlay in this year’s budget that could be used.
Commissioners and staff also reviewed several nonbudgeted special funds that have accumulated balances, including the special alcohol fund, special parks-and-rec fund and opioid-settlement money. One staff member noted the special alcohol fund carried about $12,760 for 2025 and suggested that breathalyzers or related equipment could be purchased. Commissioners discussed whether some of those funds are restricted and said they would confirm allowable uses before combining balances.
Other equipment and tech items mentioned in the session included body-cam funding lines in law-enforcement accounts, a pending request from 911 for a $70,000 desk, and general equipment needs for graders and road crews. Staff asked departments to identify specific invoices so finance can identify the correct funding source and process purchases out of reserves or special funds rather than capital outlay in operating budgets.
No final purchasing decisions were made in the meeting; staff were directed to accept invoices and identify appropriate reserve or nonbudget fund sources for the purchases.
