The county commission approved a budget of nearly $30 million for the fiscal year beginning on July 1st at its March 25 meeting. The budget looks quite different from the budget which the commission approved in 2024 for the current fiscal year.
The 2024-2025 budget projected expenditures of $24 million. The 2025-2026 budget projects county expenditures of $29.5 million, an increase of $5.5 million or nearly 23%. A sizable portion, $3 million, of the increase will be financed by the Fire Levy which voters approved in the November election. A comparison of the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 budgets reveal that the county is projecting a $2 million increase ($1.8 million to $3.8 million) in revenue from ambulance fees. Tax collections from the regular levy on property is expected to increase by $800,000.
In other business, the commission approved a request by the City of Winfield to annex property at 241 Winfield Avenue into city limits. Mayor Randy Barrett said that 13 residential units are planned for the property.
The commission approved a Tower Assistant Fund grant of $648,240 for the construction of a 911 communications tower that will replace the Buffalo tower on Custer Ridge. OES/911 Director Mikyle White said the new tower is very similar to the tower on Red House Hill at the old Confidence Elementary site. The total cost of the tower is projected at $1.4 million. The condition of the grant requires it to be expended in the 2025 calendar year. The new tower will be instrumental in implementation of the county’s fiber optic project.
White presented changes to the Putnam County Communications Manual for approval. The major change involves the numbering system which is used by dispatchers. The new system will reflect the capabilities of the vehicle. White said the current numbers on a truck does not reflect its capabilities but that it will not be necessary to change the physical number on the truck.
White also presented options for a six-month maintenance contract for 911 Call Center Handling Equipment to the commission. White has received proposals from both Frontier Communications and INdigital. The commission authorized white to accept the INdigital proposal of $14,986.26. Frontier’s price was $24,373.84.
The commission next meets on Tuesday, April 8.
