COUNTY BUDGET RISES BY FRUGAL 2.9 PERCENT

JACKSON - Cape Girardeau County's 1992 general revenue budget is up just 2.9 percent over this year, something Presiding Commissioner Gene Huckstep said is due to a need to watch expenditures carefully until the economy begins to turn around.

"Overall, we have a pretty good, frugal budget here," declared Huckstep.

County Auditor Weldon Macke, who has been involved in the county's budget process since 1969, said this is the smallest increase in a general revenue budget that he can recall.

Macke pointed out that the cautious approach this year is necessary because the county's sales tax revenue fell flat. While he hopes things will pick up next year, Macke noted that the 1992 budget will be based on no growth in sales tax.

Cape County's general revenue budget, which is proposed for $5,584,869 next year, receives over half of its funding from a half-cent sales tax that generates about $3 million a year. Fees also provide a large part of the county's revenue.

"Overall, our income is not down this year because of the fees have generated more," explained Macke. "Our sales tax is flat, but the fees helped offset that some."

The 1992 road and bridge budget, which is primarily funded by a 23-cent property tax levy, is for $1,699,883.26, which is about $3,000 less than what was budgeted for 1991.

In giving tentative approval to the 1992 budget Monday, the county commission scheduled a public hearing at 11 a.m. on Jan. 13. State law requires the commission to hold a public hearing on the budget before giving final approval.

One big obstacle in approval of the general revenue budget this year was getting agreement on a budget for the county juvenile department. The juvenile department serves the three counties of the 32nd judicial circuit that include Cape, Bollinger and Perry Counties.

Costs of the juvenile budget are shared between the counties based on population with Cape County paying 69 percent, Perry 19 percent, and Bollinger 12 percent.

Huckstep balked at a proposed large increase in the juvenile budget, which he said was not appropriate because the commission had asked all department heads and elected officials to present bare bones budgets this year.

The final juvenile budget is $475,538.40, which is up from the $388,000 for the present year. However, about $60,000 of that increase is due to the addition of Perry County to the circuit for 1992.

Huckstep and Perry County Presiding Commissioner Karl Klaus met Friday with Circuit Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr., the circuit's juvenile judge, to reach agreement on a final budget.

In working through the budget, Huckstep said cuts were made in nearly all areas of the juvenile budget to reach a final figure.

Of the total juvenile budget, only $392,467.40 will be paid by the counties. The remaining amount will come from grants and state salary reimbursements. Of the counties' share, Cape County will pay $270,802.51; Perry County $74,568.80; and Bollinger County $47,096.08.

Huckstep and Macke pointed out that while the general revenue budget reflects a 2.9 percent growth, in reality, it is less than that. Huckstep noted that of the $160,212 increase in the budget, $74,568 is being paid by Perry County because it is in this judicial circuit.

About $27,000 of the increase is due to the second year of phased in increases as part of the county's new pay classification plan, and a large part of the remainder is due to increases in costs of all types of insurance.

"This budget is hard to read," said Huckstep. "It's really a lot less of an increase than the 2.9 percent."

Macke stressed that just because something is budgeted, does not mean it will be spent. "There is no way we will spend 100 percent of what we have budgeted," said Macke.

Although all payments have not been made, Macke said it looks like only about $4.5 million of the 1991 budget will be spent and about $1.3 million of the road and bridge budget.

Macke said he is in the process of finalizing the revenue portion of the budget and should have a final copy of the budget available for public review later this week. The budget can be reviewed in the county clerk's office in Jackson.