Rutherford County panel approves $532,000 budget amendment to align Motorola radio maintenance

Rutherford County Public Safety Committee members voted to approve a $532,000 budget amendment on June 16 to align payments for a Motorola radio maintenance agreement with the county's fiscal year.

The amendment, requested by Emergency Services Director Chris Clark, covers outstanding invoices and will shift the maintenance payment schedule so future bills will fall in the same fiscal year as the county appropriation. "We are requesting that we, make a budget amendment of 532,000, for our maintenance agreement for Motorola that will put us in line for next fiscal year," Clark told the committee.

Committee members said the money for next year was already appropriated and that the amendment simply "catches up" the maintenance payment timing. Clark said the county had received two additional bills after a prior alignment attempt and that the change would put the maintenance payment in sync for upcoming years.

The committee moved and approved the amendment by roll call. Commissioners recorded as voting in favor were Beverly, Sereno, James, Rather, Oliver and Chairman Reed; the motion passed.

The committee's action clears the way for the county to continue its Motorola maintenance without an outstanding misalignment between invoicing and the fiscal budget year. Clark said the funds are included in next year’s appropriations and the amendment aligns the vendor billing cycle with the county’s budget cycle.

Committee members did not reference a statute or ordinance in making the change; the action was handled as a budget amendment and passed by committee vote.