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Finance Committee adds sheriff grants for canal patrols and vests; committee approves related contracts
Summary
The committee amended the sheriff’s 2026 budget to accept a $37,000 canal patrol grant and a $70,000 Byrne JAG vest grant (50% federal match), and later approved the Sheriff PBA and Teamsters contracts; committee discussed reimbursement nature of the JAG grant and partial use of fund balance.
The Finance Committee on June 11 approved two budget amendments for the Sheriff’s Office and ratified union contracts affecting sheriff personnel.
Mr. O’Brien moved, and Mrs. Clary seconded, a motion to add a $37,000 state canal grant to the Sheriff’s budget to fund boat, snowmobile and bicycle patrols along the canal; the motion was adopted.
Separately, the committee approved a Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) to replace bulletproof vests. The motion, moved by Mr. Wang and seconded by Mr. O’Brien, amended the budget to show a $70,000 appropriation for grant equipment, $35,000 in federal aid revenue and $35,000 from appropriated fund balance. Committee members discussed that new hire vests are 50% federally and 50% state funded and that the JAG award is a reimbursement grant; if funds are not spent they are not reimbursed.
The committee also moved to approve a Teamsters contract and a Sheriff PBA contract. The minutes record those contract approvals as motions that were moved, seconded and adopted; no further contract details were provided in the Finance Committee minutes.
Treasurer Al Nolette and members noted the county has used fund balance earlier in 2026 and that some appropriated fund balance lines (including those used for grants) should be watched as contracts and hiring decisions crystallize.
