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Votes at a glance: Merrimack County commissioners approve officer elections, borrowing authorization, budget accounting and routine items
Summary
At the meeting commissioners elected officers, approved a short‑term borrowing authorization, adjusted nursing‑home bad‑debt reserves, set staff mileage reimbursement, authorized disposal and sale of surplus property and approved the consent agenda.
Merrimack County commissioners approved a series of routine motions including officer elections, financial authorizations and administrative items.
Elections and appointments: Commissioners elected Stewart Tracey as chair, approved Commissioner Loveland as vice chair and appointed Commissioner Shurtleff as clerk. Each nomination was moved, seconded and the motions "carried" by voice vote.
Short‑term borrowing (TAN): Finance staff requested approval to issue a tax anticipation note (TAN) to manage cash shortfalls expected later in the fiscal year. Finance staff said a TAN of roughly $26 million to $30 million will likely be needed in mid‑March and that the county's projection for year‑end shows a roughly $41 million deficit if no borrowing occurs. The delegation had previously authorized up to $50 million for county borrowing during 2025; commissioners approved a motion to borrow up to $30,000,000. The motion was moved and seconded and carried by voice vote.
Bad‑debt allowance (nursing home): Commissioners approved an accounting adjustment to increase the county's bad‑debt expense and allowance for nursing‑home receivables. Staff said the change is an estimate used for year‑end reporting: items older than two years are projected for write‑off and one‑to‑two‑year items are estimated at half being written off. "Nothing is being written off today," a finance staff member said; the motion to adjust the allowance and record a $204,033 expense was approved.
Mileage reimbursement: The board approved reimbursing staff at the federal mileage rate of 70¢ per mile (IRS/GSA), moving to the federal standard used by the legislature and federal agencies. The motion carried.
Disposal and sale of surplus property: Commissioners approved the disposal and sale of specified surplus county property, including a plow truck and various furniture and equipment items. Staff described the county's auction process and the use of minimum bids for high‑value scrap; the motion to authorize disposal and sale carried.
Consent agenda and adjournment: The board approved its consent agenda and later adjourned; all motions were carried by voice vote without a roll‑call tally recorded in the public transcript.
Ending: Many motions were routine and passed on voice votes; several items (notably the TAN borrowing and nursing‑home accounting adjustment) will affect county finances and were discussed prior to votes.
