Madison County supervisors approve FY24 budget amendments including ambulance and election equipment funding

The Madison County Board of Supervisors approved a set of amendments to the FY24 county budget during the board’s regular meeting. County staff told supervisors the changes add targeted spending for emergency services, election equipment and cybersecurity needs while recognizing new revenues.

Shelly, a county staff member presenting the amendments, said the county is increasing the ambulance department budget by $44,100, partly to account for an HRSA refund the county has been tracking: "I'm amending the budget for the ambulance department by $44,100," she said. The amendments also include $14,065 added to non‑departmental opioid settlement expense lines to allow flexible use once the board chooses allocations, and a $22,500 increase to a conservation expendable trust.

Shelly told the board she is increasing auditor expenses by $40,649, citing cybersecurity grant expenses and election computers; during questioning she clarified that election computers are budgeted at $30,000 and a $10,000 grant offsets part of that cost. The county will also reallocate $80,000 in local option sales tax revenues to cover courthouse maintenance and repairs for the remainder of the fiscal year.

On the revenue side, staff said ICAC tornado‑damage reimbursements arrived after the fiscal year began and a correction to TIF fund accounting added roughly $414,065 in departmental revenue. Overall, the presentation summarized a net revenue increase of $454,633 and a decrease in fund balances for expenses totaling $3,332,788, producing a final fund‑balance increase of $121,845.

Supervisors asked several clarifying questions about reimbursement caps and fund sources during the presentation. After no public comment, Supervisor Diane moved to approve the budget amendments; Supervisor Heather seconded the motion and the board approved the resolution by voice vote.

The board’s approval authorizes staff to reclassify and expend the listed amounts in FY24; the board did not adopt new recurring policy changes in this action. Staff said published hearing notices were complete and indicated any further details about line items (for example, exact reimbursement caps and final grant matches) are held in the county’s finance records.

The public hearing for the amendments was opened and closed during the meeting; staff recorded that no written public comments were submitted in advance of the hearing.