COUNTY BUDGET UP $1 MILLION OVER LAST YEAR

JACKSON -- This year's Cape Girardeau County budget includes upgraded salaries and promotions for law enforcement officers, an additional county prosecutor and a bit more money for road improvements.

County commissioners Thursday discussed the 1996 budget at a public hearing attended only by county officials and the media. The total allotted for general operations is $7.79 million, up considerably over last year's $6.7 million operating budget.

Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones said expenses came in $1 million under budget last year and he would like to see more of the same in 1996. Revenue for the year is projected at $8.2 million.

The budget reflects some transitions mandated by the county's move to first-class status Jan. 1, 1997. One was in the county prosecutor's office.

Currently, the prosecutor represents the commission and other county officers in legal matters. Statutes applying to first-class counties dictate the county have its own counsel.

To save money in legal costs, commissioners voted to add another assistant prosecutor, which would allow the prosecutor's office to continue its representation.

The road and bridge division will have a $1.9 million budget this year, allowing for completion of some needed projects but not all of them, Commissioner Larry Bock said.

"With the growth in the outcounty area, there are more demands on our rural roads," he said. "Our goal is to get an improvement program going. Paving is our No. 1 goal."

Commissioners said there are many non-farmers without four-wheel-drive vehicles moving to the country. Jones said the county put 45,670 tons of gravel on county roads last year. These factors make paving increasingly important, he said.

The sheriff's department, including the county jail and the juvenile detention center, will work with a $1.5 million budget this year. The budget not only reflects upgraded salaries and titles, Jones said, but increasing jail and medical expenses.

He said the commission was looking at upgrading the overcrowded jail and the aging juvenile detention center, but it will take awhile to determine the best action to take.