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Committee forwards series of 87-24 transfers and appropriations to full council
Summary
A raft of budget transfers and small appropriations — covering refunds, payroll transfers, park funding, ambulance cost increases and courthouse work — were approved by the committee and recommended to the full St. Joseph County Council with favorable recommendations.
The St. Joseph County committee voted on multiple budget items Tuesday and sent a package of transfers and appropriations — chiefly identified by bill numbers in the 87-24 series — to the full council with favorable recommendations.
The session opened with a small refund and reallocation request: Veil Smolinski of the treasurer—s office said a $644 vendor refund from a duplicated maintenance-fee payment should be returned to its original fund. The committee approved forwarding that appropriation (bill 87-24A). "We're requesting the payment to be returned to the fund it was originally paid from," Smolinski said.
Aubrey Roberts of Caremark requested a $206,233 transfer (87-24B) of unspent payroll funds to cover operating expenses, professional services and equipment repairs; staff confirmed five positions and payroll lines tied to the 2025 staffing plan. Derek Dieter reported auction proceeds totaling $60,764.93 and asked that $40,000 be allocated to the Mishawaka Miracle Park with remaining funds retained at Portage Manor (87-24C); commissioners asked staff to correct the fund description before final filing.
Procurement Director Bree Roberts told the committee that a $9,813 transfer (87-24E) was needed to close the gap on an ambulance purchase for South Bend Fire after costs rose between budgeting and purchase. The committee approved forwarding that item.
Committee members also advanced an American Rescue Plan-funded appropriation (87-24F) for courthouse construction-phase repairs. Staff clarified the $190,000 request covers construction-phase items (roof and exterior work) only; interior restoration (mural and plaster repair) would require additional funding.
Several infrastructure transfers from the Infrastructure Planning & Growth office were also approved for forwarding. That package included reallocating a vacant highway engineer salary to consultant services, moving $2 million into the Mayflower Bridge account to cover an expected increase in the county—s share, and appropriating funds for a pilot of cold compacted asphalt (CCAP) paving.
Where vote tallies were recorded, the items passed by voice vote and were forwarded to the full council with favorable recommendations. The committee asked staff to fix clerical descriptions, provide corrected resolutions for public notice, and return any items with amended language to committee before the full council hearing.
