Delaware County Council on Dec. 16 approved a slate of year-end budget transfers and adopted an ordinance to preserve experience and longevity pay for 911 and sheriff deputy staff.

Council approved multiple line-item transfers presented by county finance staff to cover employee benefits, office supplies, professional services and overtime, and then passed a consolidated motion “to approve financial transfers and to amend salary ordinance with like reductions.” The motion was moved by Dan and seconded by Bill and carried on roll call.

Shelley Harvey of the Public Defender’s Office told council, “We have just ran out of funds in our public defender fund. … We have had expensive trials and expensive appeals and just we have a trial going on right now.” Harvey said the office moved money from its professional services line—used to pay contracted conflict attorneys—to cover the shortfall and that the transfer will fund current trials.

The council also introduced and quickly moved to adopt ordinance 20 25-42, which updates dates and keeps in place previously adopted ranks and salary increases for 911 and sheriff deputy longevity/experience pay. Counsel explained that the ordinance had been adopted last year with language requiring renewal to avoid expiration; members voted to allow same-day second reading (a unanimous requirement) and then to adopt the ordinance so payroll changes take effect before the new year.

Two other ordinances were advanced: 20 25-43 was introduced (counsel noted the referenced Exhibit A pay matrix was placed at seats and the ordinance updates dates for 2026) and moved to second reading; ordinance 20 25-26 was approved on second reading with an effective payroll implementation date identified as Jan. 14, 2026.

The council recorded multiple roll calls during the session for transfers, ordinance readings and adoptions. The meeting agenda and November minutes were approved at the start of the session.

The council adjourned with its next regular meeting scheduled for Jan. 27, 2026.