Franklin County commissioners approve package of budget amendments and multi‑year equipment leases

The Franklin County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 15 approved a slate of budget amendments that adjust county and school spending and authorized multi‑year leases for office copiers and postage meters used across county departments.

The body adopted a series of resolutions (10a‑1018 through 10f‑1018) that moved money inside the county general fund, provided additional funding for jail staffing, added a community re‑entry counselor and adjusted school and highway budgets. Most measures passed unanimously; Resolution 10c‑1018 passed on a 14‑1 roll‑call vote.

Commissioner Barbara Finney moved the clean‑up amendment identified as Resolution 10a‑1018, a measure the board described as reallocating funds to cover overtime and medical‑insurance overages. Another amendment (Resolution 10b‑1018) added roughly $72,300 to the county general budget to fund four full‑time correctional officers starting Oct. 15 with an additional 10 planned for April 2019, a schedule the commission said was intended to spread hiring and budget impacts across fiscal years.

A separate amendment (Resolution 10c‑1018) allocated about $31,826 to community re‑entry services, including funds to hire a counselor starting Jan. 1, 2019. The Board of Education’s general‑purpose budget was amended by Resolution 10d‑1018 to add a combination of state and federal grant revenues, including a Safe Schools allocation (reported in the board packet as $52,840) and a Drug Free Communities line (reported as $125,000) intended for school‑based prevention work. The highway and library fund amendments were approved as presented.

Commissioners also authorized multi‑year lease purchases for office imaging and mailing equipment. Resolutions 10g‑1018 through 10j‑1018 approved Konica Minolta leases for the Property Assessor, Finance Department, Emergency Management Agency and the Library; Resolutions 10k‑1018 and 10l‑1018 authorized Pitney Bowes postage‑meter leases for Finance and the Sheriff’s Department. County leaders said the leases allow the departments to spread equipment costs and maintenance across multiple budget years. All lease measures approved on roll call, 15‑0.

County Mayor David Alexander and Finance Director Andrea Smith said the amendments and contracts will be implemented through the Finance Department and incorporated into the fiscal‑year reporting already provided to the commission. Motions to receive and file the Finance Director’s reports and supporting attachments also passed on consent.

The commission’s package of amendments and equipment leases takes effect immediately under the terms approved by roll call votes during the Oct. 15 meeting.