Scurry County flags overtime and EMS equipment needs; department heads to file budget amendments

Scurry County officials said several departments are running overtime and that the county will require department heads to submit budget amendments to account for the additional expenses.

Finance staff reported first-quarter overtime of $32,689.78 and March overtime of $7,475.54 and noted that overtime is not currently budgeted. The court directed that affected departments prepare budget amendments explaining the reasons for overtime and how they would be paid or offset in subsequent financial reports.

The meeting also acknowledged a $9,000 donation from InEnergy earmarked for EMS IV pumps. Jason (Curry County EMS) said the donation will allow the county to standardize pump models across crews, which he said would reduce training burdens: "We currently have two different IV pumps that we're running. And so now we'll run the same ones so you don't have to train on two different ones." The court recorded approval of the revenue certification and authorized the corresponding budget amendment to place that donation in EMS equipment.

Officials noted that EMS overtime may be partially reimbursed by the state on a delayed schedule and that reimbursements are typically processed in October, meaning county cash flow management will be necessary in the near term. The court asked departments to provide explanations with their budget-amendment requests; the amendments will be considered at future meetings.