Butte‑Silver Bow finance committee approves $675,835.42 in expenditures and reviews budget timeline

The Butte‑Silver Bow Finance and Budget Committee approved an expenditure list totaling $675,835.42 at its April 9, 2025, meeting and reviewed the timetable and procedures for the upcoming fiscal-year budget.

Committee members heard staff explain several line items, including $50 gift-card incentives for a workplace wellness biometric screening program, payments to HDR engineering tied to American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) projects, and routine armored-car services for treasurer deposits. The committee approved the expenditures by voice vote; Chairman Commissioner O'Neil declared, “Ayes have it.”

The committee opened by confirming attendance and the absence of Commissioner Hattie Thatcher. Commissioner Bill Boyle asked about a “wellness program,” and Karen, finance department staff, replied that the county’s human-resources wellness program offers biometric screening and that participants who sign up are eligible for a $50 gift card redeemable at several Butte businesses. Karen said, “when you sign up to do that, you are eligible for a $50 gift card to a number of Butte businesses,” and that the line items on the expenditure list were purchases of those incentive cards.

Commissioner Russell O'Leary asked about “claim 7801” and armored‑car services. Karen explained these are for the treasurer’s office: “They come and pick up the cash. The treasurer's office picks up, the deposits a couple of times a week, and so they are picked up by armored car who takes it to the bank for deposit for us.”

Committee members noted several payments to HDR, an engineering firm, which Karen described as “in the tens of thousands of dollars for ARPA related projects.” No further details on individual HDR invoices were provided in the meeting record.

Karen reviewed the budget-development schedule for new committee members. She said directors and department heads work with the chief executive to prepare a proposed budget; once it becomes the chief executive’s proposed budget and then the commissioner’s budget, it is referred to the Finance and Budget Committee and later to the full commission. Public hearings typically begin in July and run into August, and the adoption process includes amendment sheets that must identify a funding source for any added appropriations. Karen summarized the calendar as roughly a six‑week process after the commissioner's budget is delivered to the commission, while noting the committee can schedule additional meetings or presentations as needed.

Committee members asked that presentations contrast adopted budgets from the prior year with the current proposed budget across tax-supported funds, enterprise funds, grants and capital expenditures. Karen said the finance office maintains prior-year budget books and can provide additional comparative detail on request.

After brief additional review, a motion to approve the expenditure list was made and seconded; the chair called for the voice vote and declared the motion approved. The committee later moved to adjourn.

Votes at a glance

- Motion: Approve the expenditure list for the Wednesday, 04/09/2025 meeting, in the amount of $675,835.42. Outcome: approved by voice vote. The chair declared, “Ayes have it.”

Meeting note: The record shows routine committee discussion and staff responses; no ordinances or budget appropriations beyond the approved expenditure list were adopted at this meeting.