The Board
of County Commissioners met in special session at 9:00 a.m. with all members
and the County Clerk present. The meeting was called to review all budgets
requests submitted for 2004. Steve Rice, Hay, Rice and Associates, attended the
meeting.
Mr. Rice,
Auditor, explained that the county’s lost revenue from the State for the year
2003 and 2004 equals about $1,000,000 for both years. He does not foresee the
State giving this revenue back to the counties in the future.
All 2004
budget requests were reviewed.
The decision was made to
consolidate the following appropriation funds into the county general fund for
2004: Fair Maintenance; Home for Aged; Extension Council; Board on Aging;
Mental Health; Hospital; Library; and Library Employee Benefits. The
consolidation is in line with the state and better accounting practices. This
will save time and money on the bookkeeping.
The
decision was made to incorporate the 4-H Building Fund in the Park/Building
Maintenance Fund for 2004.
The county
clerk submitted two budget amounts; one staffing her office at the current
level and one cutting a full time position. The decision was made to cut one
full time position from that budget for 2004. The clerk affirmed that she
believes her office can continue providing quality service with the elimination
of one full time position as long as part time help can be used when necessary.
The commissioners agreed with this.
Discussion
was held on the possibility of sharing help between departments. The county
clerk said she talked to the treasurer about this and she is willing to
consider the idea. The clerk has not talked to the appraiser or register of
deeds regarding this.
Mr. Rice
noted that with the decrease of $487,000 from Road & Bridge, the $270,000
reduction in the hospital’s levy, and the combined cuts in several smaller
budgets, the increase in the mill levy is small, .30 of a mill. He said the
county would not need to publish the resolution for increasing the taxes levied
because the county has decreased the levied taxes by $755,000. Mr. Rice
commended the commissioners for their efforts to keep taxes down.
A copy of
the approved budget amount is attached as a part of this record.
The
commissioners adjourned to meet again in regular session on August 5, 2003.
Linda McHenry, County Clerk Carl
Higgs, Chairman