County approves $150,000 transfer from use tax to purchase sheriff’s vehicles pending grant reimbursement

Rogers County commissioners approved transferring $150,000 from use-tax funds to purchase vehicles for the sheriff’s office this year, with the sheriff’s office expected to reimburse the county after it receives a related grant early next year.

County staff explained the sheriff’s office had planned to use grant funds to buy vehicles, but the grant reimbursement is not expected until after the new year. To avoid delays and a cash-flow swap of monies between accounts, staff proposed the county purchase three vehicles up front and permit the sheriff’s office to upfit them later; the sheriff’s office has said it will reimburse the county once the grant is received. Commissioners voted in favor of the transfer.

Why it matters: the move lets the sheriff’s office replace aging vehicles this budget year while avoiding immediate use-tax account reversals. Officials noted the county routinely helps the sheriff’s office with vehicle purchases and upfitting.

Details: staff characterized the preferred approach as purchasing vehicles and upfitting after the sheriff’s grant funds are received, rather than transferring money back and forth between accounts. The board recorded the motion and carried the vote; the amount was specified as $150,000 and the funding source as use tax.