County may OK its budget today

The Cape Girardeau County Commission will consider approval of the 2014 county budget today, which increases proposed spending little from the previous year.

Auditor Pete Frazier said Wednesday he was putting finishing touches on the annual general revenue budget. He said "two big key points" are officeholders spent 93 percent of the amount appropriated for 2013, which remains in line with previous spending trends, and revenue was $156,000 higher than estimated for the year, leaving the county's balance on hand this week at $1,095,616.

A preliminary budget that included $11,727,813 in appropriations -- 1.57 percent higher than the $11,545,883 approved for 2013 -- was approved by the commission in December.

Officeholders said last month the fairly flat spending planned for this year is because of matching sales tax revenue growth. Revenue in 2013, based on the county's 1 percent sales tax, increased only 1.48 percent, or $98,208, from revenue in 2012.

An estimated $6,912,800 will come from sales taxes in 2014, and other sources of revenue are expected to provide $4,179,036. Those revenue combine with the county's money on the books for a gross amount available for appropriation.

Spending plans in 2014 that have to be approved by the commission include a 2 percent increase in cost-of-living adjustments for county employees, $44,000 more for technology licensing fees and $22,000 for repairs at the county jail.

Decreases in the budget are proposed for the sheriff's department, where about $72,000 less may be spent, about $17,000 less being spent at the Common Pleas Courthouse and about $19,000 less being spent at the circuit clerk's office.

The commission also plans to reschedule a public hearing on placing a use tax on the April ballot that was set for Monday.

The hearing, if the commission approves, will be moved to 9:30 a.m. Jan. 16 in the commission's meeting chambers at the county administration building in Jackson. The hearing is being rescheduled so the county can meet the state's requirements for public notification of the hearing.

Area chamber of commerce executives are encouraging local governments to place a use tax on the ballot because they say it will level the playing field for businesses. Passage of a use tax by voters would guarantee the county can continue to charge a 1 percent sales tax on purchases of titled vehicles and other items bought across state lines.

The commission meets at 9 a.m. today at the county administration building in Jackson.

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