Franklin County adopts FY2021 budget items, authorizes CARES grant spending and school budget amendments

Franklin County commissioners on Sept. 21 approved a suite of budget and grant measures covering county operations and school accounts and authorized staff to pursue multiple CARES-era grant awards. The measures included routine appropriations, acceptance of federal and state grant applications and a package of lease agreements the school system will use for copying/printing equipment.

The finance director’s reports for recent months were received and filed, and the commission voted to receive capital-fund and trustee-interest reports. Several grant-authorizing resolutions were adopted permitting the county and its departments to apply for federal CARES funds, state recycling, airport and library technology grants, and election-assistance funds. Where roll-call votes were recorded the measures passed unanimously or by voice vote; many routine and bundled items were handled on unanimous voice votes (typically 12–0 where noted).

Why it matters: The CARES-related approvals commit the county to spend and claim federal and state reimbursements for pandemic-related needs — from library technology to election safety — and clear the way for the school system’s routine operating agreements and equipment leases. They also set up potential future spending: finance minutes show the committee recommending that available leftover middle‑school bond proceeds be applied to a Franklin County High School track upgrade and to air conditioning the Huntland auxiliary gym, but at the Sept. 21 commission meeting a motion to suspend rules and immediately approve a $814,000 education capital amendment for those projects failed (roll call 10–2) and the commission did not adopt the specific amendment that night.

What the commission did: A sampling of approved items included: the FY2021 general appropriations and tax levy (approved earlier in the year and filed), authorization to submit and accept CARES-era grants, and authorization for multiple lease/maintenance agreements for school copiers and printers. The commission also approved routine inter-category budget amendments and accepted various committee reports that provided detail on revenues, expenditures and capital projects.

Votes at a glance: where recorded in the minutes, key actions included unanimous or near-unanimous approvals: the package of school-related grant applications and lease agreements passed (typically 12–0 when recorded); the attempt to suspend rules to take up Resolution 9aa‑0920 (an $814,000 education capital amendment) failed on a roll-call vote of 10 ayes, 2 nays; other routine budget receipts and filings were adopted by voice vote.

Context and next steps: Most grant awards will require follow-up action after federal/state review and reimbursement. The finance committee recorded that the CARES package initially exceeded available funds and that staff had reallocated items and sought alternate funding channels where possible; committee minutes show staff authorization to make final adjustments subject to state and federal approval. The BOE has separately requested permission to apply leftover capital proceeds to track and HVAC projects; because the commission did not take the 9aa motion up at this meeting, the BOE request remains pending for future action.

The commission adjourned after completing the agenda and routine appointments.