Commissioners allocate $1.5 million from fund balance to advance transfer-station project

The Alleghany County board approved a $1.5 million allocation from the county—und balance to support the transfer-station project while the county awaits notification on a potential rural economic development loan and grant.

Finance officer April Hamm and project manager David Spicer told the board that internal set-aside funds earmarked for the project had nearly been exhausted (about $6,000–$7,000 remaining of a prior $100,000 set-aside) and that additional TRC invoices and design costs remain to be paid. Staff recommended the board consider allocating between $1.5 million and $2 million; after discussion the board voted to allocate $1.5 million.

Hamm said the county's currently available fund balance is about $11,736,233, and the proposed $1.5 million allocation would reduce available fund balance to an estimated $10.2 million, subject to final audit adjustments and state stabilization calculations. Staff said final audit adjustments for FY25 could change the fund-balance picture and that the board could revisit the allocation later if needed.

Spicer outlined required environmental and floodplain surveys for USDA and the electrical co-op and said he will follow up with TRC staff after the meeting to keep the project on schedule. The board also approved a related budget amendment to carry a fire-tax allocation for Glade Creek Fire Department from last year into the current fiscal year for payment, and it adopted procedures for invoice review and AP processing for those funds.

The $1.5 million allocation is an internal fund-balance commitment by the county; staff stated the county will not treat this action as a final loan award or contract acceptance and will proceed with bid solicitation if rural-development funding is approved.