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County schedules budget amendment hearing after commissioners weigh ambulance funding and cash-flow options
Summary
Facing an ambulance-funding shortfall and near-term payroll needs, commissioners agreed to pursue a budget amendment and scheduled a public hearing; county staff discussed using inheritance tax as the most feasible funding source.
At its June 2 meeting the Keith County Board of Commissioners discussed an ambulance-funding gap and the county’s near-term cash-flow needs and agreed to move forward with a budget amendment and a public hearing to resolve the issue.
Caleb Johnson, the county’s budget consultant, told commissioners that options to cover ambulance funds were limited and that using inheritance-tax funds to cover a shortfall appeared to be the only practical option in the short term. Discussion among commissioners and staff centered on an estimated funding need that variously was described during the meeting as approximately $50,000–$80,000 and, in budgeting scenarios, up to $100,000 for contingency. Commissioners emphasized the risk of creating a new cash crunch at the start of the fiscal year if the amendment were set too low.
The board agreed to schedule a budget amendment hearing. County staff and the consultant discussed public-notice timing and set the hearing for 08:30 a.m. on the 18th (the board and staff discussed the intent to hold the hearing later in June). Commissioners asked finance staff to confirm cash balances and to prepare an amendment that would create capacity — one discussed figure in the meeting was a $100,000 transfer/loan from inheritance tax to provide sufficient cash through the transition, with repayment scheduled "as funds are available." County staff said they would publish the required notice and return with a formal amendment or resolution for board action.
No formal amendment was adopted during the June 2 meeting; board members directed staff to prepare the amendment, publish the required legal notice, and present the item at the scheduled hearing so the board can take formal action.
