Carroll Countys executive committee approved a set of year-end line-item transfers and procedural budget adjustments during a Feb. 15 work session, and re-executed an intercounty inmate housing agreement that staff said had been signed separately by the other county.

The session focused on correcting fiscal-year 2024 line items across multiple departments ahead of the delegation review. The chair opened the session by saying, “Were going to do line item transfers,” and commissioners proceeded to approve a sequence of transfer requests that county staff characterized as "year-end cleanup." The committee also approved a separate $30,000 transfer to cover unanticipated inmate medical costs and re-signed a previously executed inmate housing contract with Strafford County.

Why it matters: The transfers tidy up over- and under-spent accounts as the county closes its books for 2024. Several departments—most notably the House of Corrections and the Department of Public Works—reported utility or personnel lines that were materially different from earlier estimates, which will affect the budget figures the delegation receives this week.

Most important actions

- The committee approved multiple line-item transfers submitted as requests 2024-22 through 2024-31. Staff described the group as year-end adjustments to salaries, retirement, travel, electricity, propane and other operating lines.
- Request 2024-26: the committee approved a $30,000 transfer from a land-grant account to the inmate medical services account to cover unanticipated jail medical costs; staff said the amount will be encumbered until actual bills are received.
- Corrections transfers: the House of Corrections submitted a multi-line transfer request totaling $82,931 to cover salaries, overtime, retirement and supplies; the committee approved the request as part of the package of transfers.
- IT transfer (request 2024-30): the committee approved a $46,180 transfer to cover computer contracts and associated payroll and countywide technology lines.
- Generator/admin building: members approved increasing the generator line (account ending 078901, Admin Building) to $15,090 after staff said a temporary generator and related January repairs required additional funding.
- Interjurisdictional contract: the committee re-signed an agreement to house Strafford County inmates at the Carroll County facility; staff said Strafford had signed a separate copy and both signatures were needed on the same document.

Discussion and context

County staff repeatedly described the package as routine year-end adjustments rather than new policy. At several points a staff presenter noted electric and propane lines were underbudgeted across departments and recommended corrections so departments would not show excessive overages at year end. The corrections and DPW budgets were singled out: the House of Corrections submitted transfers after a personnel schedule review, and the DPW submitted capital requests related to wastewater equipment and to generator repairs at the administration building.

On the inmate medical transfer, staff explained medical costs fluctuate with the jail population and that some costs are "above and beyond" normal expectations; they said the approved $30,000 would be encumbered because final year-end bills had not yet arrived. On the Strafford County housing contract, staff said the county previously signed the agreement but Strafford produced a separately signed copy; the committee re-signed to reconcile the documents.

Votes at a glance

All transfer motions described during the session were moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. The transcript records repeated "All in favor? Aye" responses for each listed request with no roll-call votes recorded. Key approvals recorded in the session include:

- Request 2024-22 — Attorneys office transfers totaling $2,720.08 — approved (voice vote).
- Request 2024-23 — Commissioners office transfers totaling $4,240.09 — approved (voice vote).
- Request 2024-24 — Human Resources transfers totaling $7,065 — approved (voice vote).
- Request 2024-25 — House of Corrections transfers totaling $82,931 — approved (voice vote).
- Request 2024-26 — Transfer of $30,000 to inmate medical services (jail) — approved (voice vote).
- Requests 2024-27 and 2024-28 — Sheriffs department transfers (combined reported amounts $3,320.06 and $14,310 respectively) — approved (voice vote).
- Request 2024-29 — Finance office transfers totaling $7,520.07 — approved (voice vote).
- Request 2024-30 — IT department transfers totaling $46,180 — approved (voice vote).
- Request 2024-31 — Commissioners minor transfers totaling $617 — approved (voice vote).
- Generator/admin building line increase to $15,090 — approved (voice vote).
- Re-signing of Strafford County inmate housing agreement — completed; staff noted Strafford had previously signed a separate copy.

How the committee framed next steps

Staff said they will print updated budget packets with December 31 actuals for the county delegation meeting; members asked questions about lines that showed significant year-to-year changes, notably in corrections, DPW and the sheriffs details revenue/expense lines. Several commissioners requested that department heads be prepared to explain large changes when the delegation reviews the budget.

Tapering note

The meeting was a work session to prepare the countys materials for the delegation; no new programs, ordinances or long-term commitments were approved during the session beyond the re-signed intercounty housing agreement and the line-item adjustments described above.