Commissioners OK $30K boost for transit authority in split vote

~ Presiding commissioner assures "this is a one-year deal."

Cape Girardeau County commissioners gave tentative approval to a $30,000 boost to the county transit authority Monday as they finished work on an $11.5 million general fund budget for 2007.

On a split vote, Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones joined Commissioner Jay Purcell to approve the extra funds to help the authority repay the money borrowed earlier this year to expand operations to provide taxi service and a city bus route in Cape Girardeau. Commissioner Larry Bock opposed the increase.

The county provided $20,000 this year for the authority. With the increase, the county's commitment goes to $50,000 for 2007.

A final vote on the budget will come Thursday after commissioners hold a 9 a.m. public hearing on the spending plan. Work on an overall budget continues at 9 a.m. today when Sheriff John Jordan meets with commissioners to discuss pay raises for deputies from the new sales tax approved by voters in August. Commissioners plan to write a separate budget for the new tax money, which will also provide funds for paving county roads and replace property tax revenue for both the county highway department and the Cape Special Road District.

For repaying debt

The extra money for the transit authority will be dedicated to repaying debt. The authority borrowed about $600,000 in June to buy the taxi business formerly run by Kelley Transportation Inc. and to cover start-up costs for the expanded operation. Commissioners pledged a loan guarantee at that time to help secure the money.

To make sure the extra county money is only used for loan payments, Jones said he wants proof from the authority that it has paid at least $30,000 on the principal of the loan.

"This is a one-year deal," Jones said. "We have not told him he gets $50,000 a year." He referred to transit authority executive director Jeff Brune.

During discussion of the increase, Purcell said the transit authority has been working hard to increase services and deserves extra support. "This is an area that has needed improvement for a long time," he said.

But Bock opposed the extra money because he doesn't like the idea of the county paying off the loan it guaranteed. He said the authority should work with its current resources. "They've just got to get lean and mean over there and operate it as a profitable business."

The county is the second local tax entity to promise additional money for the transit authority in 2007. The Senior Citizens Service Fund Board, which distributes money from a property tax dedicated to the needs of people over 65, agreed last month to give the authority $95,000 in 2007, up from $55,000 this year. The extra money will take pressure off the transit authority's budget and put it in line for additional federal help through the Missouri Department of Transportation, Brune said.

He promised the authority would provide any proof the county requires that the new money is being used for loan payments. "The county commission put the transit authority in place, and I think it is great they are committed to it and committed to seeing it succeed," he said.

The county's general fund spending plan envisions expenses of $11.5 million, with $11.9 million in revenue. This year's budget totaled $11.6 million. The only major increases in general spending are an 8 percent increase in the cost of the county employee health insurance and a 3.5 percent increase in payroll costs.

In other business, commissioners agreed to dip into the $83,000 Crime Victim's Compensation Fund to repay $26,000 of the $48,813 stolen by former clerk Monica Krauss, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison last week. Krauss will spend 120 days in prison, then be considered for release so she can pay restitution. Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle told commissioners he wanted to use the $26,000 to supplement other funds in the restitution account so victims of the scheme won't have to wait for Krauss to make payments to receive their money.

Commissioners also approved using $86,916 from the 911 telephone levy to purchase workstations and pay moving expenses for the new Cape Girardeau city emergency communications center. The commission also agreed to support a bid process that could result in up to $300,000 being spent on radio consoles for the communications center, which will be located in a new fire station. The 911 telephone levy is paid by all land-line telephone customers. Use of the money is directed by a countywide board.

rkeller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126