Council agrees transfer plan for nonreverting/ISS and considers $1.5M–$2M rainy-day allocation

Hamilton County councilors discussed multiple one-time funding options for planned projects — including computer/ISS maintenance and a proposed courtroom remodel — and settled on a compromise transfer amount to nonreverting funds while flagging the need to replenish the rainy-day account.

One staff member (S11) described the courtroom-remodel estimate as the largest chunk of the nonreverting request; the council negotiated to fund a smaller immediate amount and asked the project lead to return with a firm estimate. “So let's do 2,000,000 out of rainy day for the nonreverting fund,” one council member proposed; later the president suggested a compromise of $1.5M out of rainy day to build the nonreverting balance while keeping the tax-rate target in reach.

Councilors emphasized that additional transfers should not undermine the county’s rainy-day reserve, which had been used in prior cycles for a major land purchase. The auditor confirmed combined cash and rainy-day balances that kept the county above the informal guideline staff referenced for reserves. Members agreed to earmark $1.5M now, ask project managers for precise bids, and plan to replenish rainy-day from supplemental or one-time revenue later in the fiscal year.

Next steps: staff to produce firm project estimates for the courtroom remodel and ISS needs, and to propose mechanisms for replenishing rainy-day funds after the supplemental revenue picture becomes clearer.