County approves FY25 budget cleanup after questions about Panhandle Health billing

Bonner County commissioners unanimously approved a fiscal‑year‑2025 budget cleanup resolution on Dec. 2 that adjusts several line items by a total of $41,606.34 after year‑end accruals showed overspending in five budgets.

County staff (Speaker 5) told the board the overages stemmed from year‑end accounting and an uncommunicated increase in the county’s contribution to Panhandle Health. "The total of this resolution is $41,606.34," Speaker 5 said, and described which line items would be decreased and increased in the general fund and in departmental budgets as part of the motion.

Commissioner (Speaker 4) said his earlier questions about the item had not been answered and requested written documentation, including the quarterly reports that the clerk's office is required to provide under county process. Speaker 4 said prior correspondence from a former controller raised concerns about communications from the clerk's office and asked staff to provide the records showing when the clerk received Panhandle Health bills.

Speaker 5 responded that the clerk's office had alerted commissioners when the first bill was received and that quarterly reports showing total budget expenditures had been provided; staff offered to resend the reports. Speaker 4 thanked staff and said he wanted the documentation on the record so the board could determine whether process improvements were needed.

Outcome and next steps: Speaker 2 moved to authorize the clerk to open and reassign specified line items (details enumerated in the motion) to implement the cleanup; the motion passed unanimously. The board asked staff to resend quarterly reports and to provide documentation showing when Panhandle Health billing information was first received so the board can consider process improvements.