Committee approves financial reports, minor budget adjustments and plans for email approvals

At its meeting, the Howard County Community Corrections Committee approved adult and juvenile financial reports, accepted administrative adjustments to match the Department of Corrections (DOC) and county budgets, and agreed to use email approvals between bimonthly meetings for time‑sensitive grant items.

Stephanie, who the bylaws list as the committee secretary, presented the adult financial report and said she is working with the auditor's office to reclassify some benefit charges between funds and is annotating corrections at the bottom of the reports. "I don't have anything to report on them," she said, adding that corrections are noted and will be updated in the packet. She also told members the reports continue to be prepared monthly but now must be submitted quarterly to DOC.

Stephanie explained additional appropriations are procedural matches rather than new spending; for example, she identified a $6 appropriation entry to the full‑time detention officers line and adjustments to drug‑screen and rental/lease lines so the county and DOC budgets align. "So not asking for any additional money or anything of that sort, just matching the budgets correctly," she said.

The committee also discussed grant activity: juvenile and victim assistance grants were noted as previously approved and the DOC annual report had been submitted prior to the meeting. Stephanie said she is preparing DOC and pre‑trial grant applications due at the end of the month and that staff will circulate items for email approval as allowed under state guidance for bimonthly meetings.

All financial and budget adjustments on the agenda were approved by voice vote.