County plans flat spending in 2014

Flat sales-tax revenue in Cape Girardeau County during 2013 means officeholders plan to keep spending flat in the coming year as well.

The county's proposed general revenue budget for 2014 will be presented during a public hearing at 9 a.m. Monday. Auditor Pete Frazier will outline the budget during the county commission's meeting at the administration building in Jackson.

The budget that will be presented is preliminary -- Frazier said the commission normally approves a first-round plan for the county to carry operations through the end of December until they vote on a final budget in January, after the completion of bill paying and revenue gathering for the previous year.

The 2014 revenue budget includes $11.727,813 in appropriations -- up slightly from the $11,545,883 approved for 2013, though Frazier said the county is actually spending about the same as last year when required costs and reimbursement offsets are figured.

For example, the county will have to spend more on elections -- around $125,000 more -- and expects to spend another $80,000 on additional staff for the state's child support services office but will be reimbursed.

Sales-tax revenue for the year through November is up only 1.4 percent from 2012. The county has seen flat or low growth in the past, and it looks to continue, at least as far as Frazier said he is concerned. That is why the county isn't planning to spend much more in 2014 than in the current year. The county spends between 90 percent and 93 percent of its general revenue budget each year.

Raises for the county's 200 employees are considered by the commission at budget time, although not figured into the proposed appropriation. Frazier said he is prepared to present scenarios to commissioners that will show the financial effect on the county's budget if they decide to gives raises of $500 per year or a raise ranging from a 0.5 percent to 2 percent per employee. County employees did not receive a raise in 2013.

Among the proposed differences in the budget this year include spending more than last year for a new program to add pretrial services to the circuit court and more for services to add access to programs in the recorder's office -- both of which county officials expect to direct streams of revenue back to the county in the coming years.

The spending of $28,700 on a pretrial services program could cut down on the number of people booked in the county jail. The money spent in the recorder's office -- $11,685 -- would allow more outside entities to use services the office charges for.

Other areas where spending will increase include information technology, where the budget will rise by $44,152 for licensing fees, software and hardware; and in the jail, where $22,060 is needed for repairs.

Areas where the budget is proposed to be lower include about $72,000 less being spent by the sheriff -- though some of the same expenses as last year will be paid for using other revenue sources, Frazier said. About $17,000 less is projected to be spent at the Common Pleas Courthouse because the facility's 2013 budget was increased for maintenance and repairs.

The county is also spending less than in 2013 in the circuit clerk's office, on emergency preparedness, and on buildings and grounds.

The county's estimated sales-tax revenue in 2014 is $6,912,800, and revenue from sources other than sales tax is estimated at $4,179,036. The estimated balance on the books Dec. 31 will be $807,428, and when combined with revenue will make the county's gross amount available for appropriation $11,899,264. The estimated unencumbered balance in 2014 will be $171,451.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3627

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