Grundy County Commissioners let it be known this morning that all county department heads should be watching their budgets closely as another deficit budget was approved.
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Grundy County Commissioners let it be known this morning that all county department heads should be watching their budgets closely as another deficit budget was approved.
For the first time in recent memory, the commissioners requested that the department heads be at the budget hearing, where they were asked to find ways to cut expenses and increase revenues.
The 2002 budget shows total anticipated revenues of $2,848,599, with total estimated expenditures coming in at $3,003,601. With a carry-over balance of $1,043,736.62, the county will have a total of $3,892,335.62 available to spend this year and expects to have an ending balance of $888,734.62, down $155,002 from this year?s ending balance.
As always, the General Revenue Fund, has the largest number of expenditures. Beginning with a carry-over balance of $425,886.52, which will be added to revenues of $927,250, there will be $1,353,136.52 available, with $1,194,086 in expected expenditures. The estimated ending cash balance is $159,050.52.
The dwindling fund balance in the general revenue fund, which will show a decrease of $266,836 this year, is a great concern for commissioners, who have watched the trend for the past several years.
?We?re still in good financial shape,? said Second District Commissioner H.L. ?Bud? Cox, but we have to curtail the decrease before we get into trouble.?
Commissioners said there are no big-ticket items in the budget and, in fact, they cut $141,000 from the items requested by the various departments. In its budget message, the commission said that each department funded through General Revenue was scrutinized very closely and requests that were not absolutely necessary were not approved, including request from circuit court offices for replacement of computers.
County employees on the salary schedule will receive a 2 percent salary increase. If the trend of dipping into reserves continues next years, more drastic measures will be taken.
?If we?re looking at the same figures at this time next year, we?ll have to do something,? Presiding Commissioner Kenny Roberts said. ?That means we?ll be looking at employee layoffs and probably cutting some services. We don?t want to do that, but we can?t operate in the red either.?
The Special Road and Bridge Fund shows total revenues of $843,710 which, when added to a carry-over of $262,952, will leave a total of $1,106,662.27 available for 2002. Total expenditures are estimated at $814,465, leaving a fund balance of $292,197.27 at the end of the year. The only projects included in the budget for this fund are the replacement of the Kennedy Bridge, a federally-funded off-system bridge over Honey Creek in Trenton Township, and funds for a Corps of Engineers project to repair stream bank erosion which is threatening a county bridge. Two sites are being considered for this stabilization project, with both sites over portions of Medicine Creek.
The Assessment Fund shows total revenues of $185,501, with a carry-over of $1,064.74 to make $186,565.74 available for 2002. Expenditures in the fund are $184,500, with only $71,000 of that money coming from county general revenues and the remainder being state funds. The Fund should show a balance of $2,065.74 at the end of the year.
The Ambulance Fund reflects an increase in revenue from service charges, which will result from an improvement in the collection and billing procedures now that the county has taken over its own billing and collection. The fund shows total revenues of $753,500 which, when added to a carry-over of $211,071.24, leave a total of $964,571.24 available for 2002. Expenditures are estimated at $662,508, leaving a cash balance at the end of the year of $302,063.24.
Carolyn Fink, director of the Grundy County Ambulance Service, said an increase in the Medicare reimbursement for mileage will add revenue to the budget, although that amount is not included in this budget since there are no firm figures yet from Medicare.
Other funds included in the budget and the projections for those funds are:
Law Enforcement Training Fund – Revenues are projected at $7,050, which when added to a carry-over of $5,321.97, will make the total funds available $12,371.97. Expenditures are estimated at $4,510, which will leave an ending cash balance of $7,861.97.
DARE Fund – Revenues are projected at $750 and will be added to carry-over funds of $1,253.08 for a total of $2,003.08. Expenditures are estimated at $700, leaving a fund balance of $1,303.08.
Prosecuting Attorney?s Training Fund – Total revenues are projected at $900, with $4,239.07 carry-over added for total funds available of $5,139.07. Expenditures are listed at $1,050, with an estimated ending cash balance of $4,089.07.
Bad Check Fund – Revenues are projected at $12,418, which will be added to a carry-over balance of $7,911.71 for total funds available of $20,329.71. Expenditures are estimated at $12,300, leaving a cash balance at the end of the year of $8,029.71.
Recorders Preservation Fund – $5,000 is budgeted from this year?s budget, with $23,281.43 added from the carry-over for total funds available of $28,281.43. Projected expenditures for this fund total $16,200, which would leave a cash balance of $12,081.43.
Victims Of Domestic Violence – A total of $470 is budgeted for this fund, with a $55.05 carry-over balance to make $525.05 available for 2002. Projected expenditures are $500, which will leave a balance of $25.05 at the end of the year.
LEPC Fund – The LEPC Fund shows anticipated revenues of $4,050, which will be added to carry-over funds of $6,984.23 for a total of $11,034.23 available for 2002. Expenditures are projected at $3,746, leaving a cash balance of $7,288.23.
911 Fund – The 911 Fund, which receives its revenues from a telephone tax, shows anticipated revenues of $107,000, which will be added to a carry-over of $91,627.61 for total available funds of $198,627.61. Expected expenditures are listed at $106,836, which will leave an ending balance of $91,791.61.
Election Services Fund – Anticipated revenues are $1,000 in this fund and will be added to a $2,087.70 carry-over for total funds available of $3,097.70. Anticipated expenditures are $2,200, leaving a cash balance of $887.70 at the end of the year.
In addressing what can be done to make the county?s financial picture a little brighter, commissioners said the best thing citizens can do is to shop in Trenton and Grundy County because sales tax is used to fund a large portion of the county?s budget. Sales tax figures were up over last year, although they fell in the last month of the year. It is hoped that a downturn in the economy will not affect revenue, but the fear of that happening does exist.
Department heads were asked to review their budget statements each month and cut anything that is not absolutely necessary, including mileage, trips, etc. It was noted that some departments have already made cuts themselves to help the budget situation and that is ?the least painful way? to reduce expenditures, commissioners said.
Commissioners said the budget includes $75,000 for the elevator project, which was the amount budgeted last year for the project. Since the county did not receive Community Development Block Grant funds for the elevator and other ADA improvements, the funds were put back in the budget this year, although commissioners said they struggled long and hard with that decision based on the county?s financial condition. It is hoped the county will receive the grant this year to allow the project to move forward.
No funds were budgeted for the construction of a new county law enforcement center or any of the items that would be connected to that proposed project. Roberts said the county will proceed with seeking a grant for the acquisition of land for the new jail, with the remainder of the project to be funded through a proposed sales tax.
All three commissioners said the county is not in bad financial shape yet and noted that many counties no longer even have fund balances, something they do not consider wise if it can be helped. Watching the fund balance shrink has made the commission take preventive measures.
?It?s a dangerous trend and we?re taking it very seriously,? Cox said.