Crawford County authorizes $100,000 transfer to ambulance fund to cover year-end shortfall

The Crawford County Commission voted to authorize a $100,000 transfer to the ambulance department to address a year-end deficit.

A county finance presenter told the board the ambulance account was negative and proposed taking $50,000 from the operating reserve and $50,000 from County General to "clean up the books" for the close of the year. "I'm proposing a $100,000 transfer for the ambulance department," the presenter said. He added that mid-January ad valorem tax distributions would provide significant revenue for county funds.

Commissioners discussed alternatives, including drawing more heavily from the risk-management fund if necessary, and acknowledged that some ambulance expenditures for late 2025 may effectively be paid with 2026 cash once tax distributions are made. The board moved and seconded the transfer and approved it by voice vote.

Staff said they will review final bills and stop-loss figures once January and February invoices are processed, and the commission reserved the option to reallocate funds if the post-holiday accounting changes the county's position.