Delegation Executive Committee fixes $944,802 budget omission, approves reserve transfers and finalizes Carroll County 2026 budget

Chair Lino Avellani convened the Carroll County Delegation Executive Committee on March 20, 2026, and the panel moved quickly through a series of reserve-to-general-fund transfers before addressing a major spreadsheet error that understated the 2026 budget.

Executive Director Mellisa Seamans told the committee that the nursing home housekeeping line of $944,802 appeared in the detailed budget spreadsheet but had been omitted from the grand total formula, which understated the county’s overall budget by $944,802. To keep the delegation’s final total aligned with the commissioners’ proposed $45,987,025 figure, the committee adopted adjustments that reduced the Mountain View/nursing home capital reserve transfer and trimmed the 4900 capital outlay line by $800,000, deferring the water tank roof project to 2027.

Before the budget correction, the committee approved a set of transfers to cover 2025 payroll reimbursements and emergency repairs. Representative Chris McAleer moved to transfer $98,263.84 from the accrued benefits liability (sick bank/non-capital reserve) to the general fund to reimburse payroll lines for employee termination payouts; the motion passed with Representatives Boudman, McAleer and Avellani voting yes and Clerk John MacDonald recorded as absent. The committee also approved transfers to cover a failed administration building air-conditioning unit ($16,873.05), an emergency nursing-home elevator repair ($45,660), a replacement automatic transfer switch at the wastewater grinder building ($6,595.81), and an amended $63,020.04 transfer to replace a failed wastewater auger and associated gearbox/attachments.

The committee formally reconsidered prior delegation Friday votes where needed, set the Mountain View/nursing home capital reserve transfer at $207,719, reduced the 4900 capital outlay total to $1,177,919 (a reduction of $800,000), and set the nursing home bottom line at $21,188,963 (which now includes the housekeeping correction). Representative John MacDonald moved and the body approved the final 2026 budget expenses at $45,987,025, revenues at $20,386,727 (including $3 million use of fund balance) and a tax levy to raise $25,602,298.

Votes at a glance: Transfer of $98,263.84 (accrued benefits liability) — Moved: Representative Chris McAleer; Result: Passed (Boudman Yes; McAleer Yes; Avellani Yes; MacDonald Absent). Administration building AC repair $16,873.05 — Moved: Representative McAleer; Result: Passed (Boudman Yes; McAleer Yes; Avellani Yes; MacDonald Absent). Nursing home elevator repair $45,660 — Moved: Representative Boudman; Result: Passed (Boudman Yes; McAleer Yes; Avellani Yes; MacDonald Absent). Wastewater transfer switch $6,595.81 — Moved: Representative McAleer; Result: Passed (Boudman Yes; McAleer Yes; Avellani Yes; MacDonald Absent). Wastewater auger/unit $63,020.04 (amended) — Moved: Representative McAleer; Result: Passed (Boudman Yes; McAleer Yes; Avellani Yes; MacDonald Absent). February 21 minutes approval — Result: Passed (Boudman Recused; McAleer Yes; Avellani Yes; MacDonald Yes). Reconsiderations and budget-setting motions (six subsequent motions) — All passed 4-0 where recorded, including setting the nursing home bottom line and approving total expenses, revenues and tax amount.

The meeting record notes the wastewater auger unit had been received but not yet installed and that the administration building air-conditioning unit is now operational after Trane performed the service. The committee also noted the remaining balance in the Capital Improvement reserve as of March 25, 2026, was $132,865.67.

With no further business, the committee adjourned at 4:49 p.m. The approved figures keep Carroll County’s budget within the fund balance policy (ending balance ~8%).