Finance staff will draft ordinance to move capital reserves into capital projects fund for clearer reporting

Walworth County Finance Committee members on Thursday asked staff to draft an ordinance to change how capital project reserves are reported and displayed, moving most capital reserves directly into the county’s Capital Projects Fund for clearer accounting and transparency.

Finance staff explained that, under the current practice, the county keeps building and equipment reserves in the general fund and transfers money into the capital projects fund when a project is started; when projects close, funds return to the general fund. That practice, staff said, results in budget double‑counting (a transfer and a capital expense) and makes it harder to see which reserves are allocated to the five‑year capital plan and which are available for future projects.

The staff presentation proposed breaking capital reserves into specific buckets that show (1) amounts allocated to the five‑year plan, (2) unallocated capital reserves available for other projects and contingencies, and (3) amounts planned for the 10‑year capital outlook. Under the concept, money intended for capital projects would remain in the Capital Projects Fund rather than circulating between funds.

Finance staff said keeping the reserves in one fund would reduce administrative tracking, improve reporting, and make it easier to implement new capital‑tracking software. The proposal, staff said, would not change the county’s spending authority or require new fees; it is an internal accounting and reporting change.

The committee voiced general support and directed staff to draft the ordinance for committee review next month ahead of the 2026 budget cycle.