PERRY COUNTY BUDGET SHOWS GROWTH IN SALES TAX REVENUE

PERRYVILLE -- An increase in Perry County sales tax revenue is projected for the 1995 budget, which was approved by the County Commission Monday.

"Everyone seems to have money now," said Perry County Clerk Randy Taylor. "It's kind of amazing, really."

The county sales tax last year increased about $81,000 from 1993. The new budget projects another $24,000 increase, to about $740,000.

Adding to 1995 income is an estimated $160,000 to the general revenue fund for boarding St. Louis-area prisoners. The county received about $110,000 for that last year. The budget projects another $52,000 for boarding federal prisoners.

County employees are receiving a 25-cent hourly pay increase with the new budget, said Presiding Commissioner Karl Klaus. That $10 weekly increase for about 50 employees will cost $26,000 more.

1995 revenues in the general revenue fund are budgeted at $1.603 million. Total expenditures are projected at $1.6 million, meaning the ending balance for the year is expected to grow by about $3,000 to $466,000.

The road and bridge Fund is also nearly balanced in the 1995 budget. Revenues are projected at $834,000 while expenditures are budgeted at $829,000. The county expects to end the year with a fund balance of $540,000.

One major purchase is planned from the county's road and bridge fund, said Western District Commissioner Mike Yamnitz of Yount. A new grader with a 14-foot blade is expected to be delivered by March.

Setting the budget was a "good learning experience the first time," said Dennis Lohmann of Longtown, who took over as Eastern District commissioner Jan. 1.

"There's a lot more to the budget than I thought," Lohmann said. "I had no idea that general revenues and sales taxes were that great an amount."