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County staff say E-911 grant will fund new center but recommend limited use of fund balance for equipment
Summary
Finance staff told commissioners that a state/federal grant will fund a new E‑911 center but recommended using restricted E‑911 fund balance for equipment purchases now to reduce future operating pressures. Monthly E‑911 receipts are projected near $37,191 and current expenditures total $345,176.22 to date.
Staff and commissioners spent an extended segment of the work session on Fund 17, the county’s E‑911 account, after finance staff said the county had received a grant to build a new 911 center. "That's the grant that we received to build a new 911 center," a staff member said, explaining why the grant money is being tracked separately from operating revenues.
The staff member said monthly E‑911 remittances are averaging about $37,191 and that expenditures to date on E‑911 operations were $345,176.22, with a projected year-end operational cost (excluding the grant) of roughly $123,908.22. "So even though we are buying things with a fund balance currently for operations, those are things that we will have to buy within the new 911 center," the staff member said, arguing equipment purchased now could be used in the new facility and help preserve monthly allotments going forward.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about whether the grant money sits in a county account or with the state; staff said the grant draws are held by the state for certain line items and the county will draw money as invoices are submitted. One commissioner pressed on whether the fund balance being tapped is restricted; staff clarified it is the E‑911 fund balance, separate from general fund balance.
The discussion concluded with staff recommending targeted use of restricted fund balance for equipment that will be deployed in the new center, while maintaining transparency that some projected appropriations are conditional on revenues actually materializing. The board did not take a formal action on this recommendation during the session.
