Auditor data leaves uncertainty over funds to buy Paul Michael building

County officials at the Sept. 9 budget workshop reviewed an auditors' summary that the court said showed roughly $13.5 million in cash on hand, but much of that amount is dedicated to specific funds and therefore not directly available for general-fund uses such as a possible purchase of the Paul Michael building.

"This is the 15,000,000 we're referring to, which is not cash. It is a combination of accounts and property tax and the receivable. The actual cash that we had was 13.5," the county judge said when presenting the auditors' figures. Staff then walked the court through line items: about $4 million held for road and bridge and roughly $4 million in ARPA remain in restricted accounts, leaving about $5 million; staff said roughly $2 million of that is also dedicated to other specific funds, leaving about $3 million that might be available, pending final audit reconciliation.

Commissioners said they had earlier been told different totals and that the discrepancy requires follow-up with the auditors. The court scheduled a separate workshop to decide whether to proceed with the office purchase and to confirm final, audited cash balances before committing one-time funds.

No formal decision to buy or abandon the Paul Michael building was made at the Sept. 9 workshop.