Council reviews year-end finances, approves multiple start-of-year appropriations

The Tippecanoe County Council reviewed its year-end finances and approved multiple appropriations and salary statements during its first meeting of the year.

"We ended the 2024 year or beginning of 2025 with a cash balance in the general fund of $21,585,445," said the county Auditor during the financial report. After accounting for projected revenue, encumbrances and an approved minimum balance of $11,000,000, the auditor reported a beginning net balance of $7,521,557 for 2025.

The auditor told the council that general fund revenue exceeded expenditures by roughly $2 million and that the overall general fund spend rate was about 94% of budget. The auditor also noted creation of a new health fund (fund 11.59) "per statute," currently showing a zero balance, with plans to move the health department’s 2025 budget into that fund and discuss fund operations during budget hearings. The self-insurance fund (fund 4710) ended the year at about $4.6 million after starting 2024 at roughly $8.9 million.

The council moved quickly through a list of year-start appropriations and related items on the consent and regular agendas. Most motions were carried by voice vote; the…