Carroll County's delegation voted to approve a $233,000 supplemental transfer to fund an electronic records project and discussed two facilities projects and outstanding questions about an ARPA funds movement.

Motion and vote: The delegation approved a motion to transfer $233,000 from undesignated funds to account 1004902.124 to pay for the county's electronic records conversion. Representative McAleer moved the motion and Representative Mcdonald seconded it; the motion passed 4-0, as the roll call recorded four "yes" votes.

What was approved: County staff described the electronic records project as a conversion to retain records domestically in a searchable electronic format and to reduce paper storage. County staff said the work would be paid from the undesignated fund balance into the capital account listed during the meeting and that the commissioners had approved advancing the project to the delegation for action.

Other projects discussed: County staff presented a paving package totaling $691,510 from GMI Asphalt that had been broken into discrete parts so the county could select elements to pursue. Staff said commissioners approved sending the full proposal to the delegation. Delegates also reviewed a late carpet replacement quote of about $60,667 from Cobalt Construction Management for carpet in the attorney's office, sheriff's office and jail; staff described the carpet as 20- to 25-year-old worn flooring needing replacement.

ARPA funds and review hold: Delegation members said they had asked in May for documentation explaining movement of $7 million in ARPA funds into the county budget and had not yet received a written explanation. The delegation decided it would not approve further projects tied to those funds until the auditor or county provided the requested written documentation. One delegate said, "Until that is provided, we will not be approving any further projects out of those funds."

Context and next steps: County staff said some of the facilities work required delegation action because the scope exceeded $5,000 of work to a building or complex. Finance staff said they would reexamine how to classify the electronic records expense (capital vs. specific line); staff and delegates agreed to confirm exact budget codes and return required paperwork. Delegates set a September 1 deadline for completing the supplemental budget process and asked for written responses on the ARPA transfer before that date.

Ending: The electronic records transfer was approved 4-0. Delegates left the larger paving and carpet projects pending additional documentation and resolution of ARPA transfer questions before approving other expenditures.