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Vernonia council adopts supplemental budget to cover equipment and IT upgrades
Summary
Council adopted Resolution 2026-03, adjusting transfers and covering one-time costs including a backhoe purchase for public works and a server/IT upgrade to maintain police mobile data connectivity after Columbia County 911 changed support arrangements.
The Vernonia City Council adopted Resolution 2026-03, a supplemental budget that reallocated funds to cover a new backhoe purchase for public works and an IT/server upgrade needed so the city can maintain VPN connectivity for police mobile data terminals after Columbia County 911 changed its support. Council reviewed the resolution and approved the changes by voice vote.
Staff explained that transfers to facility reserves were reduced by $12,500 apiece to free up funds for the backhoe and that the police department needed a one-time server upgrade to replace a county-provided VPN service. "The biggest part was the echo of the public works spot from the county... we just reduced the transfer out to each of the facility reserves by 12,500 to cover the cost of the backhoe," staff (speaker 5) said. IT labor to set up the server was the primary cost driver; staff described most other adjustments (airport, cemetery, parks) as minor.
Why it matters: The budget revision covers capital and technology costs the city must fund immediately; the server upgrade is necessary to maintain police operations after the county changed its service. Council adopted the resolution and staff will implement the adjustments.
Next steps: Finance and department staff will execute the transfers and IT upgrades; staff noted some police costs will be partially offset by grants the department has been receiving.
