April Ham, the county finance representative, told Alleghany County commissioners on Jan. 5 that the county owes the U.S. Forest Service $15,847.11 related to a three‑month invoice from fiscal year 2024 that was paid in fiscal year 2025. Ham said the Forest Service submitted invoices for April, May and June of fiscal 2024 late; those invoices were ultimately paid in fiscal 2025, creating the outstanding amount recorded against the county’s fund balance.

Ham said the invoices arrived late because the Forest Service’s finance office submitted a three‑month invoice after staff or staffing changes delayed processing. She said the sum is part of the county’s fund-balance obligations and asked the board how it preferred to handle payment. Commissioners acknowledged the amount and discussed using fund balance to satisfy the obligation.

The report was presented for information; no formal amendment specifically earmarking fund-balance dollars for the payment was recorded at the meeting. Commissioners did not contest the amount and requested staff follow up if additional documentation or allocation steps were required.