Pulaski County approves corrections to grants, three staffing items and transfers

Pulaski County commissioners voted to approve several budget corrections, a court funding add-on and personnel pay adjustments during their regular meeting.

The commission approved an appropriation correcting money previously misposted to the Guardian ad Litem fund and enabling the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) program to spend $36,705.07 on its grant-funded activities. "I'm Sarah Croft. I'm the director of the CASA program," Sarah Croft said, and she asked the board to allow spending of the funds. County staff explained the sum had been routed into the wrong fund when electronic funds transfers labeled "Guardian ad Litem/ CASA" were posted.

The board also approved a $20,000 additional appropriation to the court to cover transcripts and depositions for appeals. "The additional is for transcripts and depositions for appeals," Judge Crystal Coker said, describing an increase in jury trials over the past two years that has driven transcript costs higher.

Separately, the board approved a personnel placement for a recently hired deputy, JT Martin, to the 3‑year step in the county pay scale for officers with prior experience. The sheriff explained the department often credits prior service to recruit and retain officers; the board voted to start Martin at the 3‑year level. Commissioners also approved a $15,000 transfer from QCC Correctional Care (listed on the agenda as QCC) to the county's Medical/Dental Services line to cover prescription and medical costs resulting from a change in the vendor contract.

Other routine items approved included county council minutes from March 10 and a health-department related appropriation tied to the school liaison position (Marie Roth) that will be paid from an existing community foundation grant and the health department; the board approved moving $30,589 to the appropriate grant fund so the liaison can be paid as intended.

Votes at a glance

• CASA program appropriation correction — Motion to approve $36,705.07 so funds previously posted to the wrong fund may be spent by CASA: approved (motion carried). • Court transcripts/depositions — Motion to approve an additional $20,000 for appeals transcripts: approved (motion carried). • Deputy pay-step for JT Martin — Motion to place new deputy at 3‑year step (3 to 8 range, placed at 3): approved (motion carried). • Transfer: QCC Correctional Care → Medical/Dental Services — Motion to transfer $15,000: approved (motion carried). • School liaison (health department/community foundation) — Motion to appropriate $30,589 from grant fund so school liaison pay is covered as intended: approved (motion carried). • Approval of council minutes (March 10) — approved (motion carried).

The board did not adopt any new multi-year contract language or change base salary ordinance rates during these items; staff indicated some salary ordinance revisions were under review and would return with clearer documentation. Several commissioners and staff emphasized the routine, corrective nature of several of the appropriations — for instance, the CASA funds were described as already awarded but placed in the wrong fund and now being moved so the program can use them.

Ending: County staff and commissioners said the funding corrections were intended to align accounting records with original grant awards and to make operational expenditures possible without new external funding; several items included requests that the auditor or county attorney confirm proper accounting and documentation before expenditure.