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Commissioners reallocate FY25 surplus and ARPA funds: $2 million for apparatus reserve, $5 million to pension, $1 million for agricultural preservation
Summary
Facing a preliminary FY25 surplus, commissioners agreed to set aside $5 million for the pension fund, allocate $2 million to accelerate fire apparatus and ambulance procurement lead times, approve $1 million for agricultural preservation and $300,000 for a South County maintenance facility.
Washington County commissioners on the record approved multiple fiscal reallocations from the FY25 preliminary excess and ARPA carryover funds, including a $5 million pension contribution, a $2 million reserve for fire-apparatus/ambulance procurement, $1 million for agricultural preservation and up to $300,000 for a South County maintenance facility.
Kelsey Mace, the county’s chief financial officer, told the board preliminary FY25 general-fund results show an excess of roughly $20.6 million (about 4.8% of the $434.1 million approved budget). Staff recommended keeping $8.6 million to maintain a 25% cash reserve, allocating $5 million to the pension fund and up to $7.5 million to the capital reserve for one-time needs. On the record, commissioners moved to apply $5 million to the pension fund; the motion passed 5–0.
Commissioners debated accelerating purchases for emergency apparatus because of long manufacturer lead times. County staff and emergency-services representatives said a new fire truck typically costs about $1.1 million with equipment bringing total fit-out to roughly $1.4–$1.5 million; an ambulance equipped to county standards was estimated around $500,000. Lead times cited were about 36–40 months for fire apparatus and 12–24 months for ambulances. Commissioners approved allocating $2 million into the reserve fleet to begin procurement planning and possible down payments; the motion passed 5–0.
The board also approved a one-time $1,000,000 contribution to the agricultural-preservation program (state matching program) and up to $300,000 for a pole-barn-style storage/shed and exterior repairs at the South County maintenance facility. Commissioners discussed using capital-reserve funding for the maintenance facility work; the motion for the $300,000 allocation passed 5–0.
Staff said prepaying or making a down payment on vehicle contracts can reduce future price escalation; commissioners emphasized that lead times make early funding desirable. The board recorded that these allocations are one-time uses tied to the FY25 surplus and ARPA fund transfers and that ongoing operating costs should not be covered by one-time funds.
