Supervisors approve carryover of up to $59,000 for Health & Human Services furniture after Pinerest move

The Blackhawk County Board on June 16 approved Health & Human Services’ request to carry forward up to $59,000 in operating funds into fiscal year 2027 to complete office-furniture purchases related to relocations from recent renovations.

Finance staff explained the department has roughly $120,000 in expense capacity remaining in the current budget line. "They have people kind of waiting for furniture. So, I think the sooner I guess I would say the sooner the better to authorize them so that they can get an order," a board member said. Health and Human Services representative Jesse Barren said the department planned to use a state master agreement vendor for the purchase and had identified eight desks as the primary need.

"Nothing above $59,000. I don't think it's even going to come close to that really," Barren told the board, adding the vendor bid had been procured through the state master agreement to satisfy procurement rules. Finance Director Michelle Weiner confirmed staff could withhold purchase until the carryover was authorized and that there was room in the expense line to support the request.

Board members raised concerns about consistency and asked staff to draft a formal carryover policy so similar requests are evaluated uniformly across departments. The board agreed the carryover authorization would not create an automatic process: department requests will still require board approval.

A motion to approve the carryover and authorize the purchase was seconded and approved by voice vote. Staff said they will bring a draft county policy on carryover requests to the policy review committee and board for consideration.