Crawford County discusses year-end budget amendments, sets amended budget hearing for Dec. 19

Commissioners reviewed proposed year-end budget amendments on Tuesday, saying the changes increase spending authority for funds that already hold cash rather than creating new tax levies. Speaker 4 told the commission the amendments are intended to allow departments to spend existing carryover amounts to cover bills that arrive late in the fiscal year.

The amendments discussed included adjustments for the ambulance service, the general fund and the consolidated 9-1-1 account. Speaker 5 said the consolidated 9-1-1 fund has roughly $180,000 in carryover but has experienced higher spending this year; commissioners discussed a proposed $100,000 authority increase for that fund to avoid violating budget law. Speaker 5 also cited a recent telephone-tax balance of $2,526,000 and projected the county’s general-fund carryover declining to about $300,000 over time.

Speakers identified specific departmental pressures: landfill and household hazardous waste (HHW) costs, insurance and consulting expenses, and sites that produced unusually large bills late in the year. Two fire districts asked for additional spending authority (roughly $10,000 and $8,000, respectively); Speaker 4 said both districts have the carryover funds to cover the extra authority.

The commission voted to publish notice for an amended-budget hearing on Dec. 19, noting a 10-day publication requirement for hearings. Speaker 2 made the motion to approve publication and Speaker 3 seconded it.

Next steps: the county will run the required public notice for the Dec. 19 hearing and hold the amended-budget hearing on that date.