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Floyd County EMA Commission approves budget plan that anticipates federal EMPG funds
Summary
The Floyd County Emergency Management Agency Commission approved motions to reappoint leadership, set a Feb. 16 public hearing on the proposed FYE 2027 budget and agreed to prepare the budget assuming receipt of 2026 FEMA EMPG funding; commissioners also approved prior minutes and adjourned unanimously.
The Floyd County Emergency Management Agency Commission on Feb. 3 approved a budget plan for fiscal year ending (FYE) 2027 that assumes receipt of federal Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) funds expected in 2026, and set a public hearing on the proposal for Feb. 16 at 4:00 PM in the Emergency Operations Center.
EMA Coordinator Jason Webster presented the proposed FYE 2027 budget and told commissioners the Ending Fund Balance is "maintaining and no longer trending downward." Webster said the 2025 EMPG had been “held up in litigation at the Federal level but has since been released,” and the commission chose to prepare the budget anticipating the 2026 EMPG rather than assume it will be unavailable. Webster also said he included a 3% wage increase for the coordinator in the draft budget but would accept whatever increase the county ultimately approves.
Why it matters: The commission’s decision to assume EMPG funding affects the agency’s revenue forecast and the level of services the EMA can plan for in 2026–27. Anticipating the grant allows the commission to include planned staffing and operating costs now; if the EMPG is not awarded, the commission will need to revisit the budget.
Details and actions taken
- Leadership reappointments: The commission voted unanimously to reappoint Sheriff Crooks as Chair (motion by Gloria Carr; second by Randy Hassman). The minutes record a separate unanimous motion (moved by Gloria Carr; seconded by Vice‑Chairperson Dean Andrews) described in the text as to "reappoint Mayor Andrews as the Vice‑Chair of the Commission." The minutes are ambiguous about that phrasing and do not clarify whether that refers to Dean Andrews or another person; the record shows the motion passed.
- Minutes and records: Commissioners approved the Feb. 28, 2025 minutes after amending two instances of "Public Meeting" to read "Public Hearing." The Jan. 26, 2026 Multi‑jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan update kick‑off was discussed; Gloria Carr noted no quorum was present for that session, so the document will be retained as "notes," not adopted minutes.
- Budget specifics: Webster flagged typical cost increases (FICA, IPERS and insurance). He noted a $600 reduction from no longer purchasing an annual Zoom license because the county is changing virtual meeting platforms. Webster said he included a 3% wage increase in the proposed budget for the coordinator position; Carr expressed support for that increase, saying Webster’s compensation appears low compared with peers.
- Public hearing and next steps: Commissioners set the public hearing on the FYE 2027 EMA budget for Feb. 16, 2026, at 4:00 PM in the Emergency Operations Center (motion by Randy Hassman; second by Jerry Engelhardt). The commission will present the proposed budget at that hearing and accept public comment before finalizing the submission.
- Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned by unanimous vote after routine motions.
The minutes list Jason Webster as the preparer of the minutes. No vote tallies by individual member were recorded in the minutes; all recorded motions passed by unanimous voice or vote as noted.
