Carroll County sets Dec. 15 public hearing on budget amendment; staff outlines $254,843 amendment

County staff reviewed a proposed fiscal-26 budget amendment Dec. 1 and the Board of Supervisors voted to set a public hearing on the amendment for Dec. 15 at 9:30 a.m.

Unidentified county staff explained the amendment is largely a set of line-item corrections and capital fund movements with a net revenue amendment of $254,843. Notable items discussed included reimbursing the general fund and recording the purchase of an ambulance monitor as a capital expense, moving courthouse panic-button and door-system costs from the general fund to local option revenue because they were unplanned expenses, and coverage for personnel and detention cost overruns.

Staff cited a $5,000 supplemental to cover an increase in salary for a new jail assistant supervisor (with associated FICA and IPERS costs), an additional $20,000 for juvenile detention and a $36,000 roof project at the ambulance building. In conservation capital, staff identified $84,186 for a Swan Lake project and said a state water-resources grant of $54,186 and Community Foundation funds would offset part of that spending.

Board members asked clarifying questions about the panic-button and door system costs and whether those were fully documented; staff said some items were paid from courthouse maintenance and then moved to local option so the maintenance fund could be replenished. The board then voted to set Dec. 15, 9:30 a.m., as the public hearing date for the amendment; the motion carried on a voice vote.

The public hearing will provide an opportunity for residents to review the amendment’s line items and for the board to take any formal action after public comment.