Panel reviews grant applications; staff explains restricted funds and the effect of a Purdue settlement

Staff member (S2) summarized the status of several grant applications and the county's restricted funds. She said High Point Health Partnership’s application is ready to submit and that staff will hit the submit button the next day and await the state's response. The sheriff’s office application is being reworded because a partner that had been expected to participate has found work elsewhere.

On the Sumner County Health Department, staff said the department had not shown interest in applying for the state funds at this time. On restricted funds, staff explained that restricted monies come from the state once a year, most of the funds have been budgeted and expensed, and the only additional available funds for this grant opportunity are the withheld $50,000 and the funds tied to this opportunity. She said the county’s funding “started out” around $901,000 and that the Purdue settlement will produce a small spike in funding next year.

Staff cautioned that restricted funds are earmarked and are available for a limited set of purposes; she said the restricted pot is being set aside in an interest-bearing account and that salary and operating-budget allocations also draw on those funds.