Van Buren County board approves FY2026 budget amendment to reallocate ARPA funds

The Van Buren County Board of Supervisors opened a public hearing and approved an amendment to the fiscal year 2026 budget that reallocates American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to four county projects, officials said.

Speaker 4, presenting the amendment, told the board the notice of the hearing was published on July 31 and that a "lot of it is the ARPA funds put into the budget." He said the amendment includes planning funds for one project now and adds items such as boiler work and new "mini splits" to help cover remainder costs in the general fund.

Speaker 1 moved to approve the budget amendment and a second was recorded. Speaker 4 said a roll call would be taken; several supervisors answered "Aye" and one member was noted as not present. The board carried the action by roll call.

Board members discussed why the amendment shows a negative on some lines. Speaker 4 explained that amendments frequently increase expenditures without adding new revenue unless a grant or other unexpected income arrives; he cited a restored $3,800 revenue entry tied to a previously canceled check being brought back from the auditor's fund.

Members also noted the recent years' pattern of multiple amendments tied to ARPA and carryover. "We had to reorganize because we had carryover that we didn't spend out of last year," Speaker 4 said, describing the practice as an attempt to align authority with likely spending.

The board did not adopt new taxes as part of the amendment; Speaker 4 said the county does not levy ad hoc taxes to offset amendments and will only add revenue lines for identifiable grants or other income.

The vote concluded the public hearing on the amendment. The board moved on to routine business and adjourned at 09:47.