Allegany County committee reopens transfer and adds contingency for jail security upgrade

The Allegany County Ways and Means Committee voted to reopen a recent budget transfer and approve an amendment adding a 10% contingency for a planned upgrade to the county jail's security systems.

The county administrator told the committee that the requested modification would move money from the general fund into a capital fund "to upgrade the jail security system, the cameras, as well as their building controls." The administrator emphasized this action was a budget transfer and said the sheriff would return with purchase agreements for any equipment purchases.

After the initial vote, members moved to reopen that vote and add an amendment to increase the appropriated fund balance to include a 10% contingency. A committee member stated the contingency "is 2,156,000." Following discussion and an amendment motion, members voted by voice and the amended transfer carried.

Committee members asked about the life expectancy and details of the planned system; the county administrator said those details would be provided later when the sheriff presents the purchase agreements. The transcript record contains an apparently garbled dollar figure when the administrator first read the transfer amount; committee discussion focused instead on the policy choice to add contingency and the requirement that the sheriff return with purchase documentation.

The amendment to include contingency was moved and seconded and carried by voice vote; the committee then proceeded to subsequent agenda items.

What happens next: staff will proceed with the capital transfer and the sheriff will bring purchase agreements back to the committee or board for approval before contracts are executed.