Council approves multiple additional appropriations and transfers totaling hundreds of thousands across county funds

Harrison County Council on Monday approved a series of additional appropriations and budget transfers across multiple county funds, unanimously voting to move money for courthouse repairs, jail medical expenses, riverboat-funded security and parks capital projects, and numerous park maintenance items.

Councilwoman Holli Castetter moved approval of several additional appropriations in the prosecutor IV-D budget totaling $24,156.77 (including $19,825 for the child support director line, $1,516.62 for FICA and $2,815.15 for PERF). The council also approved a $70,000 additional appropriation for jail medical expenses from the LIT-public safety county share fund.

Councilman Richard Gerdon moved a $24,960 appropriation for security services from the county share of the riverboat fund, and Councilman Jake Blackman moved a $31,653.63 appropriation for parks capital outlays from the same fund; both measures passed 7-0. Councilwoman Castetter also moved a package of park and recreation appropriations totaling $57,511.55 to cover fuel, hardware, plumbing supplies, petting zoo supplies, lake treatment, services, worker's compensation and building and equipment repairs; that motion carried unanimously.

The council approved a set of transfers, including $2,500 from First Deputy to part-time employees in the auditor budget; $3,000 from emergency fuel to maintenance supplies in the maintenance budget; and smaller transfers for EMA dues and riverboat officer fuel. The Motor Vehicle Highway Fund reallocated unemployment balances to pay several positions, and the council reallocated $15,365 and $635 from the spay & neuter program and printing & marketing into other supplies for Animal Control.

All appropriation and transfer motions recorded at Monday’s meeting passed on 7-0 votes. The council also acknowledged the public defender board’s 2024 annual report, accepted the October county treasurer’s report, approved the 2026 council calendar and approved several sets of prior meeting minutes.

Why it matters: The appropriations and transfers cover building maintenance and essential services (courthouse roofs, jail medical expenses), and reallocate existing balances to cover payroll and operational needs. Several items affect the Park & Recreation Fund and the county share of riverboat funds, impacting local recreation services.

What’s next: Most motions moved existing or newly appropriated funds into department budgets immediately; some items (such as roof repairs and capital outlays) will proceed through department procurement and scheduling processes.