Morgan County approves $1M design appropriation for BOT 4 and moves $5M into rainy day fund

Morgan County Council on March 2 approved a $1,000,000 appropriation from the county

rainy day fund to pay for architectural design work on the BOT 4 public-works project and also voted to transfer $5 million from the general fund into the rainy day fund under Resolution 2026-3.2.

Commissioner Collier, who presented the design request, said the expenditure continues a multi-year program of capital upgrades, highlighted recent work on the historic courthouse and new administration building, and estimated BOT 4 will finish by 2029 if the schedule holds. When asked for a total project estimate, Brian stated a figure of $15,500,580.

Why it matters: Council members framed the moves as managing long-term facility needs while preserving fiscal prudence. Linda reported rainy day balances and said the $5 million transfer comes from interest receipts in 2025; after encumbrances and recent appropriations the rainy day fund will remain available for ongoing capital commitments.

Council procedure and outcome: The motion to appropriate $1,000,000 for BOT 4

design and the motion to approve Resolution 2026-3.2 were each moved, seconded and approved by voice vote during the March 2 meeting.

Context and next steps: Collier described the design appropriation as an initial step to get "where the 2x4s go, where the outlets go" and emphasized that the work follows years of deferred maintenance. Linda said the transfer and appropriations leave a remaining rainy day balance after accounting for encumbrances and other appropriations; no further votes on BOT 4 were scheduled that evening.