Lincoln County adopts multiple 2025 budget supplements to cover indigent, judicial and highway needs

The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt several supplements to the 2025 county budget at its Nov. 25 meeting after a public hearing and staff explanation.

County Auditor Sherry explained that several accounts had exceeded budgeted amounts due to paid claims and settlements, and she described why supplements were required for particular accounts — including support of the poor, judicial department accounts related to prosecution costs, a domestic‑abuse fund adjustment due to an inadvertent over‑payment, and highway revenue and disbursement accounts affected by higher‑than‑expected motor‑vehicle collections. Sherry told the board she could have used an automatic supplement for certain judicial accounts, but chose to present the full package "in the name of transparency." She also proposed one internal change to increase account 10141304222120 to $183,721 to fully allocate received revenue.

Sherry and commissioners discussed how the domestic abuse fund uses specific clerk‑collected fees and that those disbursements are statutorily required, and she clarified that the highway revenue increase would also require increasing disbursements to cities and townships. Commissioners asked for and received assurances that required civil and engineer reviews (for projects that depend on such revenues) would occur as required by statute.

After public hearing and brief questions, a motion to approve the list of supplements passed on roll call. The action will be reflected in the county's posted budget modifications and in the county accounting records for 2025.