Committee agrees to forward EPA grant amendment to finance for spending before June 30

The chair reported the state offered an amendment that would add funds to an existing EPA grant and asked how the county should proceed to accept and spend the money before the grant deadline.

Committee members agreed to forward a budget amendment to finance so the county could accept and spend the funds in the current fiscal period. "As soon as I get a signed agreement, I would spend it right away because it has to be spent before June 30th," the chair said. The chair described planned purchases tied to radiological planning and detection (handheld wands, pancake friskers, chargers and other items) and said the grant is not a match grant; the county must submit a spend plan to the state.

Members noted that finance typically groups budget amendments and that there is time to get the amendment to finance in April. The committee moved and carried to forward a budget amendment request for the additional EPA funds.