Budget and Finance

2/7/2006

 

The Budget and Finance Committee was convened at 7 PM with all committee members present.  Glenn Coppock proposed several amendments to the General Purpose School budget.  Water damage to the high school cost the county $15450 and all but the $500 deductible was reimbursed by insurance.  All other amendments were transfers between accounts. These amendments were unanimously approved by this committee - pending approval by the school board on 2/9/06.

 

Revenue increases to the county General Fund budget of $44,250 included an increase in the business tax collected, payments in lieu of taxes from local utilities, insurance monies reimbursed and Circuit Court jail fees.  There were decreases of $21,100 less than expected in general services charges, General Session court jail fees and Criminal Court fees for a total increase in revenue of $23150.  These proposed amendments to the budget passed unanimously.

 

General Fund Budget amendment expenditure increases included $6952 for Juvenile Housing and a $1000 deductible for legal expenses from a previous lawsuit.  Due to the increased cost of paper, there are no funds left in that budget and $3000 is needed for copy paper (for the entire court house). This will be transferred from the Building Improvements line item. The $7426 charge from the Comptroller of the Treasury for the printing of tax notices sent out by the Trustee had not been appropriated in the original budget.  A $3000 payment is due Barge, Waggoner, Sumner & Cannon, Inc for the remodeling design of the jail.  There is a $5168 increase in Convenience Center labor due to the new Convenience Center. (Note that these funds will be reimbursed to the General Fund by Solid Waste). In their last meeting, the County Commission unanimously approved up to $51,000 to be taken from the Undesignated Fund balance to provide water to the part of SR 370 and Beeler Lane that does not have water (the Beeler Lane Water Project). There was a proposed $2500 road repair increased expenditure for repair of Broad St near the dumpster.  This committee unanimously approved all of these increased expenditures and transfers.

 

On 11/14/05, the County Commission terminated the Wilson Park and Recreation Director. The Parks and Recreation Department board requested that the remaining salary of this dismissed board director be placed in the line item for supplies for that department.  The committee did not feel this was appropriate at this time and will not take this recommendation to the full commission.

 

There was an informal discussion on rising automobile fuel prices and it is expected that this line item will run about $7000 -10,000 over budget.

The Ambulance board requested a transfer of $9500 from their Data Processing line item to cover: a $2000 in-service increase,  $1000 increase expense in Building Maintenance, a $5000 increase in communication gear and a $1500 increase in the cost of natural gas. This committee voted unanimously to recommend this to the full commission.

 

County Commission will meet on Monday February 13 and the next Budget and Finance Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday March 7.  The public is encouraged to attend.