Whitley County council approves $3.13 million rainy-day transfer, pays $15,734 vendor bill in 6–1 vote

The Whitley County Council on March 3 approved a slate of budget moves including a $3,128,000 transfer into the county’s rainy-day fund and the payment of a $15,734.26 phone-vendor bill that drew a single dissenting vote.

Tiffany, the county auditor, told the council the proposed rainy-day transfer equals roughly 10% of the adopted departmental general-fund (DGF) budget and that the rainy-day balance can be returned to county general if conditions change. "We could move $3,128,000 into rainy day, which is 10% of the DGF looked at and approved budgets," Tiffany said during the meeting. The council approved the transfer unanimously.

Separately, commissioners described a vendor billing error on the county phone system that dated to Nov. 24 and said the vendor apologized and paid an insurance claim. The council approved paying the outstanding amount of $15,734.26 from capital/building funds after discussion about available accounts; the motion passed 6–1 with Council member Kim Wheeler recorded as voting no.

The council also approved several donated and grant-funded appropriations passed unanimously: two donations to Community Corrections — $5,315 for national training for veterans treatment court staff and $500 from the Elks — and a $2,000 interpreter-grant appropriation that was re-advertised after a missed deadline. The council approved additional appropriations tied to a local SDI grant for an evening women's program intended to sustain and expand the program’s outreach.

Personnel and operations actions passed as well. The council approved a temporary part‑time hire to train in the weights-and-measures department (position to begin mid‑March through the end of June) to cover an upcoming vacancy; staff said existing budget lines can cover the training period.

No formal motions’ sponsor or seconder names were consistently provided on the record for every item; when a motion or second was not spoken with an explicit name in the transcript, the vote was recorded by voice and shown in the minutes. Vote tallies recorded in the meeting minutes were reflected in council votes noted at the meeting: the rainy-day transfer and the appropriations passed unanimously; the vendor bill passed 6–1.

Next steps: the council will reflect the approved transfers and appropriations in county accounting records; budget staff and the auditor will post any updated fund balances and follow up with departments on spending plans.