Harrison County commissioners wrap up year with fund approvals, clerk request and health department adjustments

As 2025 came to a close, many villages held their final meetings before the New Year. The Harrison County commissioners held their final meeting Monday, Dec. 22, to address routine business, including purchase orders, vouchers, appropriations and transfers. The board also approved a $130,000 transfer to the sheriff’s office to cover remaining salary costs for the year due to increased staffing.

The board began by approving vouchers from the public assistance fund, children services fund and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act program. The public assistance voucher totaled $116.90, while children services totaled $18,882.07. The WIOA voucher was $7,269.64. All three were approved unanimously. Commissioners also approved a voucher for the Harrison County Council on Aging for $2,736.72.

Commissioners approved an appropriation increase for the clerk of courts hospitalization fund of $26,138.48. The increase was needed to cover insurance costs for the remainder of the year after the previous clerk moved two employees’ insurance premiums from one fund to another.

“I’ve found that the increase is necessary to ensure that sufficient funds are available to cover insurance costs for the remainder of the year,” Clerk Christina Porter said.

Porter also requested a transfer of $40,281.25 to the clerk of courts certificate of title fund to begin 2026 with a positive balance. She wrote that when she began her term in January, the fund was about $17,000 in the red.

“The revenue has been the same as previous years and my spending has been less, yet the deficit still remains,” Porter wrote.

Porter said she has taken steps to prevent a deficit from recurring. Commissioner Dustin Corder said a meeting was held earlier Monday with Porter and noted she has made adjustments and is projecting she will not face a deficit next year.

The health department also requested adjustments to the general fund, including decreases and increases across several line items.

Decreases totaled $24,182.36 and included salaries, supplies, utilities, PERS, workers’ compensation and Medicare. The largest decreases were in salaries ($21,750) and PERS ($1,853.41).

Increases totaled $27,613.60 and included contract services, mileage and expenses, advertising, state fees, health insurance, dues and fees, and settlement sheet deductions. The largest increases were contract services ($17,300), mileage and expenses ($4,000), advertising ($4,000) and dues and fees ($1,200).