Cape Girardeau County Commission approves budget increase for university extension

Cape Girardeau County commissioners approved an increase of $2,345 to the University of Missouri Extension office's 2010 budget at Thursday's

meeting.

The Extension office submitted a budget of $119,320 to the commission for approval last year. The county, which funds three salaries at the office, approved a budget of $115,345. The additional money will make the office's 2010 budget $117,690.

The county never notified the Extension office that its submitted budget was not approved, and due to a procedural error the office has been receiving monthly payments equal to the budget it requested. Because the mistake was caught and corrected before the end of the year, the office never received more money than was in its budget. Total payments received by the office from the county for 2010 will not exceed the updated budgeted amount.

Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones said the county has paid secretary salaries at the Extension office for as long as he can remember. He said he was not sure why the county was responsible for their salaries.

"Some way or another that needs to change. Maybe we need to check on that with other counties across the state," he said.

In the motion approving the additional money, commissioners also stated all departments and entities involved in the county's budget process should be notified in writing of their approved budget.

In other business

• A decision regarding flu shots for county employees was deferred until Monday pending more information. Jones said in the past the county has paid for employees to receive flu shots from the county health

department.

• An indigent burial was approved for Joy I. Hufford. The county has agreed to pay up to $600 for expenses incurred by Ford and Sons Funeral Home. Jones said the county does not receive many of those requests throughout the year.
• Dan Sanders with Maco Developing of Clarkton, Mo., told the commission of his intent to construct senior housing on LaSalle Avenue in Cape Girardeau. He has developed other senior housing units within the county, including one on South West End Boulevard in Cape Girardeau.

cbartholomew@semissourian.com

243-8600

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