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CFO outlines $1.3M in unexpected revenues as commission considers FY24–25 amendments
Summary
John Scholl, the county CFO, told the commission resolution 25-6T lists nearly $1.3 million in unbudgeted revenues and described large variances tied to tax collections, grants and capital projects including airport fuel-farm and capital roads. He said the county’s cash position improved and the commission will set mill values ahead of the FY2025–26 budget process.
John Scholl, the county chief financial officer, presented Resolution 25-6T, a package of fiscal-year 2024–25 budget amendments that list funds and amounts exceeding prior appropriations and explain why the commission must adjust last year’s budgets. Scholl said the county intentionally budgets conservatively for revenues and that unexpected grants and higher-than-projected tax collections produced an estimated $1,300,000 of additional revenues this year.
Scholl identified several large items driving the variance: the general fund was underbudgeted by about $412,000 (including roughly $100,000 in higher tax collections), a downtown capital abatement/capital equipment item was about $300,000 over budget because of an upfront capital purchase, airport activity related to fuel-farm work and FAA grants increased receipts and expenses (Scholl described an $800,000 fuel-farm project largely paid by FAA grants), and a Montana Commerce grant contributed about $400,000 to capital roads. He also noted better-than-expected interest income and a strong ambulance-fee year that improved cash flow.
"In total, it's almost $1,300,000," Scholl said when summarizing those unbudgeted revenues. He said the county finished the year with a positive cash flow and expects to finalize permanent mill valuations and other budget steps in coming weeks. Commissioners asked about the increase in cash; Scholl estimated an increase roughly in the range of $500,000–$750,000.
No formal vote on the budget amendments was recorded in the transcript; the commission scheduled a public hearing for the proposed FY2025–26 budget and staff said they will post mill values and supporting documents in advance.
