Cape County commissioners OK preliminary 2010 budget

The Cape Girardeau County Commission approved a reduced preliminary 2010 budget during its meeting Thursday night.

A final budget will be voted on during the commission's Jan. 7 nighttime meeting. Two other nighttime meetings are scheduled for Feb. 4 and March 4.

"The 2010 budget reflects a conservative financial approach regarding problem solving solutions," county Auditor David Ludwig said during the public hearing on the budget.

The budget projects revenue of $11,381,878.86, a decrease from the 2009 budgeted amount of $11,469,415. While county revenue is expected to be around $10.25 million next year -- about $1.1 million less than what is projected to be brought in -- Ludwig said the county has about $5 million in an emergency fund and $2 million in unencumbered funds, which is money left over from last year. However, December expenses are expected to reduce the current encumbered fund.

Spending by county offices and departments has decreased from $10.9 million in 2007 to about $10.6 million by the end of 2009. To curb spending in 2010, Ludwig said, the county will need to continue practicing wise spending.

During the meeting, a few of the nine members of the public who attended spoke during a time for comment.

Sue Brockett of Whitewater asked about the commissioners' use of county cars for work.

District 1 Commissioner Paul Koeper said he only drives his vehicle to the county administrative building, which is a mile from work, and for county business. He said he needs a properly equipped vehicle during bad weather.

Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones and District 2 Commissioner Jay Purcell said they often use their personal vehicles for county business and do not submit expense reports.

Jeff Timmerman of Cape Girardeau asked whether the commissioners had thought about renting instead of purchasing a vehicle for county use.

"Sometimes it's cheaper to rent the vehicle because it's all maintained from the people you're renting it from," Timmerman said.

Jones said county Treasurer Roger Hudson has studied the issue and that in some cases it might be true.

County Clerk Kara Clark Summers said she also researched the issue and that the savings depended on the length of the trip.

bblackwell@semissourian.com

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