Pope County approves several budget requests, accepts juvenile grant and reallocates election funds

Pope County officials on Friday approved a series of routine budget requests, accepted a federal juvenile-services grant and reallocated election spending while tabling a broader discussion on surplus investments.

The county’s financial summary opened the meeting. "Gross sales and use tax for the general fund for February was $566,004.04," Larry Holman reported, and he said year-to-date revenue was above projections. Holman also noted property-tax collections for February were "right at $1,400,000." The figures set the backdrop for several appropriation votes and transfers that followed.

The court approved reimbursable carpeting for the assessor’s office after a motion and second. County Clerk Pam Ennis asked separately for new carpet in individual offices (the common areas had been completed); commissioners approved that request as well.

Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Phillips asked the court to cover a roughly $4,000 shortfall in his office’s payroll line caused by the retirement payout of a longtime employee. "HR advised me that we had a shortfall of about $4,000 because of Sandy Sisney's retirement," Phillips said. The court approved the request, and Phillips said he may later request additional renovation funds for office space and would seek to use some forfeiture money toward that work.

Amber Bryant of the juvenile office presented a federal grant that is apportioned across the state's fifth district. "With it being a federal grant, it's monthly reporting. We have to submit documentation every month on where the money is going and they are very particular on what we can spend it on," Bryant said, and the court approved accepting the grant and its specified allocations.

Ben Cross, who oversees county building and maintenance, reported a refund from the county’s former elevator service contractor after switching vendors. "I've contracted with a new maintenance service because I'm gonna save about $90,000 over the life of the contract," Cross said. The court voted to place the $21,006 refund into the maintenance budget.

The court also approved a transfer within the election commission budget to pay for a ballot-on-demand machine used for absentee voting. Pam Ennis explained that the purchase included components (a printer, laptop and accessories) split across line items, and the transfer moved already-appropriated funds into the correct accounts.

A routine agenda item on the county’s surplus-investment fund was tabled so commissioners could review several ongoing projects and await the outcome of an upcoming election before making decisions.

Votes at a glance

- Assessor office carpeting: approved (motion seconded; no opposing votes reported). - County Clerk office carpeting: approved (motion seconded; no opposing votes reported). - Prosecuting Attorney payroll shortfall (~$4,000): approved (motion seconded; no opposing votes reported). - Acceptance of federal juvenile grant (fifth district allocation): approved (motion seconded; no opposing votes reported). - Deposit of elevator-service refund (~$21,006) to maintenance budget: approved (motion seconded; no opposing votes reported). - Transfer for ballot-on-demand purchase (election commission): approved (motion seconded; no opposing votes reported). - Surplus-investment fund discussion: tabled for later consideration.

The meeting lasted about 11 minutes; officials said a short workshop would follow. Several items included follow-up reporting requirements or conditions: the juvenile grant requires monthly documentation on allowable expenditures, the prosecuting attorney noted potential future renovation requests funded in part by forfeiture money, and the election commission transfer moved appropriations into specific line items to match the vendor quote.

Attendance and next steps included routine departmental follow-ups and continued review of surplus-investment planning at a later date.