County commission approves budget for 2007

Only one Cape Girardeau County resident took part in the public hearing Thursday on the county's proposed $14 million budget for 2007.

David Seabaugh, a resident who closely monitored county commissioners during the campaign to pass a new sales tax, was perplexed by the budget plan's omission of those funds. Discussion of how and when to spend those dollars dominated budget discussions by the commission in recent weeks, including when to start paying sheriff's department employees promised raises.

"Where is the money for that?" Seabaugh asked the commissioners. "You are supposed to have a plan."

In response, Seabaugh was handed a one-page revenue estimate from County Auditor David Ludwig that outlined the six ways the new tax will be divided. Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones said the estimate is deliberately vague because there is no history for that tax.

"We will do a lot better in the future," Jones said.

But commissioners did not include approval of that $4.2 million estimate and spending when they unanimously approved an $11.6 million general fund budget and a $2.4 million road and bridge budget. Under state law, most spending decisions for the county must be made by Jan. 10. There are provisions for budget amendments later to spend new sources of funds.

The budget includes few new projects for the use of county money. The county payroll is set to increase by 3.5 percent, and there is an 8 percent increase in the costs of providing health care for county workers.

According to the budget document presented by Ludwig, the county expects to end the current fiscal year with $850,000 in the general revenue fund and $300,000 in the road and bridge fund. The county's general revenue sales tax is estimated to bring in $6.2 million, with the remainder of the $11.6 million spending plan coming from other revenue sources such as fees in county offices.

The general revenue budget includes $500,000 set aside for emergencies and leaves $394,332 unappropriated.

In the road budget, property taxes, which are being collected for the last time this fall, will bring in $1.2 million, while other sources such as distributions of state tax money will add $1.1 million. The road budget, which covers regular maintenance of county roads, anticipates a surplus for the year of $145,158.

The new sales tax, which takes effect Jan. 1, is expected to bring in $4.2 million during 2007. The Cape Girardeau Special Road District, which is giving up its sales tax, will receive $1.5 million, while $1.2 million will be set aside for county highway department needs in 2008. The city of Jackson, which sued the county for a share of county road taxes, is due $94,859; other smaller cities will receive $5,740.

That leaves $1.4 million, which will be split evenly between the raises and benefits for sheriff's department employees and paving projects on county roads.

rkeller@semissourian.com

335-6611 extension 126