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Pope County treasurer reports stronger-than-expected receipts; court approves new deputy and several appropriations
Summary
At the Sept. 9 Pope County budget meeting Treasurer Larry Homan reported August sales tax and lottery revenues above projections; the court approved hiring one deputy through Dec. 31 and passed appropriations for detention security, courthouse roof bid advertising, and library E-rate laptop purchases.
Larry Homan, Pope County treasurer, told the court the county’s gross sales and use tax for the general fund in August 2025 was $518,713.16, and year-to-date projected revenue stood at about 107.47 percent. Homan said nearly $7.7 million remained unappropriated across county funds.
The court moved quickly from the finance report into unfinished business. Sheriff’s Department representative Blake Wilson asked the court to approve hiring one deputy immediately to implement new courthouse security protocols and to train the hire through Dec. 31. Wilson said the annualized cost would be “about $46,000” (he clarified during Q&A that figure included benefits). A motion to approve the position passed on an aye vote.
The court then approved funding for that position and for a separate appropriation to upgrade booking-area security at the detention center. Roddy, who described the booking upgrades as similar to Crawford County’s system, said the work would include two new doors and be mostly built off-site to avoid shutting down booking operations. The court voted to authorize the appropriation.
Judge Ben Cross presented requests to advertise bids for a new courthouse roof and annex roof; he said HTW Architects and Engineering will prepare the bid packet. The court approved the appropriation to proceed with advertising the roof bids.
Cross also described an E-rate grant purchase for library laptops, noting the library pays initially and is refunded through the state; the court approved proceeding with the purchase under the E-rate funding process.
Next steps: staff will finalize appropriation paperwork and (for the courthouse work) release bid documents once the architect’s packet is ready.
