LITTLE MOBILITY SEEN FOR COUNTY'S BUDGET

JACKSON - Cape Girardeau County's budget process for 1992 is officially under way, but Auditor H. Weldon Macke is anticipating very little excitement or debate connected with the new budget.

One reason for the lack of excitement is the county's tight financial condition, which is caused by a flat sales tax growth this year. With 10 monthly checks for 1991 already in, receipts are running just a few dollars ahead of last year - less than 1 percent ahead of the same time in 1990.

Regardless of what happens the last two months, Cape Girardeau County is unlikely to have a significant increase in its sales tax, which provides all of the tax revenue for the county's general revenue budget.

A second factor this year is that in approving the 1991 budget, the county commissioners implemented a new job and pay classification plan that is being phased in over two years. That means there is no reason to discuss pay raises since they were decided last year.

In mid-October, Macke mailed out budget request forms to the 34 departments and entities that receive county funds. Macke asked for the requests to be returned by Nov. 15.

Some of the requests, particularly those for larger departments like the sheriff and jail, circuit courts, and highway department, are normally not turned in until after the first of December.

"If the commission is going to follow the pay plan on a two-year basis and give no other raises, which they have indicated they will do, then I could almost fill out the budgets for most departments myself," explained Macke.

"Salaries have always been the hold up, but if the commission sticks by this, then there won't be much to talk about and we should finish the budget fairly soon."

Costs of utilities and overhead charged to budgets are generally calculated by Macke.

Several departments may make requests for new equipment, but Presiding Commissioner Gene Huckstep has warned that the flat sales tax growth will force the commission to carefully scrutinize any requests for department budget increases.

Additional personnel for any office is also unlikely next year.

One of the planned new expenditures in the 1992 budget will be an expansion of the county jail to provide space for eight additional female prisoners on the ground floor and a storage area on the top floor.

The commission will also spend some funds to put a new roof on the county's juvenile detention center and some other repairs there.

"It looks like the commissioners will take a real cautious approach to the budget for 1992," observed Macke. "There are a lot of uncertainties and we just don't know what to expect in revenue."

In making revenue projections for next year, Macke said he was probably going to budget sales tax income at the same level it comes in this year, rather than projecting an increase.

Cape County's general revenue budget for 1991 is about $5.1 million and the road and bridge budget is $1.7 million.

If there are any differences between what an officeholder or department head is asking for and what the commission is willing to allow in the budget, a hearing will be held. Macke said he anticipated budget hearings being held between Christmas and New Year's.

Macke said he expects final approval of the budget in early January.

Counties must approve budgets before any funds can be expended in 1992.