Auditor Karen Martin presented a series of amendments to the 2024 Wallowa County budget in an afternoon public hearing on Dec. 30, detailing adjustments across several departments and the need to ensure adequate line items remain for late-year expenditures.

Martin outlined modest additions and shifts: small revenue and expenditure adjustments in the assessor's budget, an added $20,000 personnel line for labor-negotiation support, a coroner request for an additional $18,000, and several corrections‑department amendments to cover overtime, kitchen and salary needs. She noted the corrections department had experienced several heavy months and that the amendment would reduce the ending fund balance for that department to cover remaining obligations.

The sheriff's office submitted a one‑time grant (about $56,255) that had already been spent in the relevant patrol and administration lines; Martin and staff confirmed that an amendment was necessary to document the revenue and offsetting expenditures rather than drawing from salary lines. Commissioners took a brief recess to review the exact amounts; upon return, they agreed to add the requested sheriff figures to the amendment.

With no public speakers appearing in the afternoon hearing, a motion to approve the 2024 budget amendments (including the sheriff revision and the other departmental changes discussed) was moved, seconded and approved unanimously (3‑0). The auditor will finalize the written amendments for signature and post the updated budget records.