Scott County Commission passes county budget

BENTON, Mo. -- Thanks to conservative spending by its elected officials and department heads, Scott County had some extra padding in its budget this year.

"That allows us to have balances at the end of the year, which is what we live on [to make up for revenue shortfalls]," said Jamie Burger, presiding commissioner. "Our ending balance increased from the end of '09 to the end of '10, which not many counties can say. We work hard to get our revenue and we work hard to control our spending -- we have to."

He said the budgeting process is always "time-consuming and trying."

Following a public budget hearing Thursday morning, the commissioners voted to OK this year's budget.

According to a budget message prepared by Rita Milam, county clerk and chief budget officer, the general revenue fund, which includes the upkeep of the courthouse and funds needed to operate most of the offices, began 2011 with a cash balance of $1,074,601.95. Revenue are being projected at $4,614,306, which makes the total funding available for appropriations $5,688,907.95. Appropriations are projected at $5,239,418.25, which would result in an estimated year-end balance of $449,489.70 in the fund.

The road and bridge fund had money remaining in its account, and the law enforcement and E-911 communications fund did not spend their respective budget amounts in 2010, the commission noted.

In the message, Milam wrote the cash balance in the fund is largely due to unspent monies in various departments, as appropriations for 2010 were estimated at $4,777,834.25, but only $4,150,258.85-- about 85 percent -- was actually spent.

Commissioner Dennis Ziegenhorn lauded Milam for getting all of the numbers in line. "It makes our job easier," he said. He also commended the department heads for holding their expenditures as low as possible, and not spending money just because it's leftover in the budget.

"We expect them to live within their budget and return a little bit," he said. "And they are very good about that."

In the budget message summary, Milam wrote: "Scott County faces many challenges in the future to provide services to the residents and maintain balances in the funds. I have always tried to estimate revenue conservatively, while allowing the expenditures in certain budgets to provide for unforeseen costs that may occur during the year. ... I strongly feel that the elected officials and their staffs will continue to do their part in performing their duties at the lowest cost possible."

The commissioners emphasized the advantages of having that leftover balance.

"That carry-over is something we talk about often," said Burger. "That $1 million is our baseline -- I know it's not enough to weather a major disaster, but it's nice to have that to rely on and fall back on."

Ziegenhorn added that it's good to have those funds in case there are any new mandates, or changes in reimbursements, provided by the state.

"We don't have any control over that," he said. "And they don't send checks with their demands."

The commission noted that budget requests were again reasonable, and there weren't a lot of places to cut.

"I think that everybody realizes in today's economic climate what we can and can't fund," said Burger.

Ziegenhorn also said that taxpayers often don't realize all of the services the county provides -- from road work to collecting taxes to making arrests and prosecuting suspects.

"We house bad prisoners and take them off the streets, and to prosecute them costs us money," he said.

He urged county residents to be mindful of that and make purchases in Scott County whenever they can. "Our job is a much easier job when the economic growth of Scott County prospers," he said.

In the coming year, Burger said the road and bridge fund will dedicate about $600,000 of its projected $1,451,950 in appropriations to overlaying roads. The amount that will cover and where has yet to be determined.

"We haven't gotten our [material] bids back yet," said Burger. "But I've gotten wind that some bids are coming back cheaper per ton."

In 2010, 17 total miles were overlaid.

Elsewhere, Burger said the county is looking to replace a dump truck and do other upgrades. But for those purchases and others, the county will continue to look for grant assistance, including that provided by the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Development program.

While the budget is now passed, Burger said now is when the real work begins.

"We'll have to see what our sales tax does for us this year and get our fees collected," he said. "We have a lot of work ahead of us, I think everybody is up to that challenge."

Pertinent address:

Benton, MO