Commissioners set aside contingency funds after dispute over Treasurer’s temporary payroll

Franklin County Commissioners voted 4–1 on Nov. 18 to set aside contingency funds to cover up to two months of temporary payroll in the Treasurer’s office amid a staffing transition.

Administrator Amy told the board the resignation of the department’s bookkeeper left the Treasurer’s office without the staff needed to pay county bills. The Administrator requested either an emergency declaration or other temporary funding to allow hiring a clerk to keep financial operations running.

Commissioner Tom Saviello said legal counsel advised that an emergency declaration cannot be used to restore a budget item eliminated by the budget committee, and he pressed for clarity on repayment and process. A motion to call an emergency Zoom session with the county attorney failed. The board then approved a motion to set aside contingency funds to pay the temporary clerk for up to two months; the motion was made by Commissioner Tom Skolfield, seconded by Commissioner Fen Fowler, and passed 4–1 with Commissioner Saviello opposed.

Administrator Amy told the board the candidate for the bookkeeper position would be hired at a higher step on the salary scale because she brings 24 years’ experience and the county incurred no net savings when accounting for payout of accrued vacation to the departing bookkeeper. Commissioners discussed using savings elsewhere to cover the temporary cost and asked the County Attorney for guidance on repayment and process going forward.

The board did not adopt a formal repayment schedule at the meeting; Commissioners requested follow-up from legal counsel at a subsequent session.

The immediate procedural outcome: contingency funds were authorized to be used temporarily to maintain payroll continuity in the Treasurer’s office. The board scheduled additional discussion with the County Attorney on the legal and procedural questions raised.