Council approves $50,000 appropriation and new supplies line for sheriff's firearms training fund

The Monroe County Council voted unanimously Thursday to create a new supplies account line (21060: training supplies) in fund 1156 (firearms training) and to appropriate an additional $50,000 to cover projected ammunition and training-supplies costs.

Jordan Miller, financial coordinator for the sheriff’s office, told the council the request followed discussions with the auditor’s office and reflects prior practices in which ammunition purchases had been paid from services or capital lines. He said establishing a supplies line improves transparency and aligns expenditures with appropriate account categories.

Councilors pressed the sheriff’s staff on whether the added appropriation represented new funding or could instead be covered by transfers within existing budgeted amounts. Councilor Wilts and others noted the 2025 budget already included training supplies in some lines and asked why an additional appropriation was needed in January rather than a transfer. Miller said his office had been coordinating with the auditor but did not have full details at the meeting; Auditor Molly Turner King said the fund balance exists and the request can be appropriated from fund 1156. Morgan staff offered to provide follow-up documentation for the council.

Why this matters: The change aims to make firearms-training expenditures more transparent by placing ammunition and related purchases in a supplies line rather than miscoded services or capital categories. Councilors requested follow-up on whether the action represents reclassification of existing funds or an additional appropriation.

The item passed on unanimous roll call. The auditor and sheriff’s office were asked to provide documentation on fund sources and to explain whether a transfer could have been used instead of an appropriation.