Board approves $1.25M in carryovers and hears update on EMS billing cyberattack recovery

Frank Rogers, County Administrator, told the board that the FY24–25 general fund carryover requests total just over $1,254,000 and include items such as mandatory carryovers for opioid‑settlement funds earmarked for epidemic intervention strategies and funds to support the next reassessment.

Rogers also detailed planned carryovers for capital improvement and public safety needs, including under $60,000 set aside to address issues at the recently acquired Citizens Rescue Squad building.

During questions, a supervisor asked about the county’s EMS billing vendor, which the agenda memo said was the victim of a cyberattack in February 2024. Rogers and Director Fairchild explained the vendor, Change Health Care, was impacted beginning Feb. 19 and suspended billing; the firm has since reinitiated billing but the backlog may take up to about a year to work through because of insurer processing timelines. Fairchild said the county carries forward the administrative fees budgeted to pay the vendor for billing work so the county can cover the vendor’s charges when back bills are issued.

Board members discussed whether the arrangement leads to circular flows of funds (vendor sends bills, collects from patients/insurers, then the county pays administrative fees) but accepted staff explanation that the administrative fee is paid for billing services regardless of when cash is collected. The board approved the carryover motion by voice vote.

Action: board approved the FY24–25 carryover request; staff to implement approved carryovers and provide follow-up details as requested.