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Comptroller reports stronger interest income, ARPA projects still need contingency funds
Summary
Bannock County comptroller told commissioners interest income and several one‑time refunds boosted revenue so far this fiscal year; ARPA projects including the Youth Development Center and exhibit hall have additional unanticipated costs and staff proposed using public defense grant funds to pay rent.
Kristy Klauser, Bannock County comptroller, briefed the Board of Commissioners on April 15 about the county’s quarterly budget‑to‑actual revenue and expenditure report and provided an update on American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) projects.
Klauser told the board interest income is higher than expected and cited an $81,000 capital defense refund and other one‑time receipts that raised general fund revenue. She said most seasonal and grant revenues appear low only because the report covered through March and several receipts are expected in April and June.
On the public defender budget Klauser said about $319,000 remained in a public defense grant and asked whether the board would allow using that grant money to pay the county’s public defender rent, which she said would conserve funds in the indigent defense budget. Commissioners indicated assent during the meeting.
Klauser also gave an ARPA update. She said the county completed two items—an upgraded 9‑1‑1 microwave link and annex acoustic ceiling work—and moved a previously held contingency amount of $245,000 into the Youth Development Center construction contract as a formal change order. She said the project has unanticipated items including a topography survey and Idaho Power costs (the presentation cited an Idaho Power amount referenced at about $39,000) and additional camera costs the county expects to address; Klauser said cameras for the YDC could cost about $60,000.
Other ARPA‑related costs discussed included metal detector modifications at the exhibit hall because the new detectors fit differently than the old ones; Klauser said those changes could add roughly $7,500 to $10,000. The commission previously approved a roughly $29,000 change order for a tactical building, she said, and staff absorbed that within ARPA budgets.
Klauser said she is balancing which ARPA and PILT (payment in lieu of taxes) funds to use for capital items so the county can properly capitalize assets and meet ARPA obligations. She described the schedule for YDC completion as later in the calendar year and the exhibit hall work as potentially complete by August.
Commissioners asked follow‑up questions about timing and next steps; Klauser said she would continue to track invoices and return with any formal budget revisions as needed.
Ending: Commissioners directed staff to continue monitoring ARPA projects and to bring any required budget revisions back to the board during the regular budget process.
