Coffee County commissioners approve bundled budget amendments for ambulance, capital and other funds

Staff reviewed a series of budget amendments across county funds and the commission approved them as a bundle.

The amendments included: an ambulance fund transfer and a $30,000 grant for keyless-entry systems and $46,004.98 in insurance recoveries applied to maintenance and repair; a prior-year invoice adjustment in capital projects and change orders on an animal shelter project; technical amendments to the drug control and highway funds (including an update tied to an increase in the mineral severance tax rate); and routine transfers and adjustments in the general fund and debt-service schedules.

Following the staff presentations, a commissioner moved to accept all of the amendments as presented (motion recorded as "Motion to accept all of them; Motion by mister Stakefield"). The motion was seconded and commissioners approved the bundled package by voice vote with no recorded roll-call breakdown.

During the discussion, staff also described ambulance-fund revenue sources (property taxes, patient collections, Medicaid/Medicare subsidies) and warned Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement rates do not always cover full transport costs. Staff confirmed a planned vehicle purchase (approx. $335,000) to be funded from the ambulance fund and said the fund balance would remain adequate after the purchase.

Commissioners scheduled follow-up meetings to review insurance bids and to invite department heads to present more detailed budgets before final budget adoption.