Grundy County Commissioners have been meeting almost daily in an effort to have the 2003 budget document ready for approval next week. Unfortunately, a big part of their job this year is finding ways to cut anything that is not absolutely necessary from the budget while still being able to serve the taxpayers.
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Grundy County Commissioners have been meeting almost daily in an effort to have the 2003 budget document ready for approval next week. Unfortunately, a big part of their job this year is finding ways to cut anything that is not absolutely necessary from the budget while still being able to serve the taxpayers.
Among the officeholders struggling with budget issues are the new Grundy County Clerk, Kristi Urich, as well as Grundy County Treasurer Colleen Kidd, County Assessor Andrea Steinhoff and Circuit Clerk and Recorder Bea Shaw.
Having just begun her duties Jan. 1, Mrs. Urich has jumped right into the thick of things in the county clerk?s office, compiling her proposed budget and working with the commission as they look for solutions to the county?s dreary financial situation. In preparing the budget for her office, Mrs. Urich said there will be significant savings in personnel due to the departure of long-time employee Connie McCloud and the hiring of Carol Ausberger to replace her at a lower placement on the salary schedule. Betty Spickard, who was already employed in the office, will continue her duties and Mrs. Urich is requesting the 2 percent salary increase for her, as is currently on the salary schedule. Commissioners have made no announcement as to whether or not appropriations will be made for salary increases this year, although they have indicated that the increase for the county clerk and other officeholders will not be funded.
Expenditures for the county clerk?s office are estimated, before any cuts are made by the commission, at about $90,000, which would include salaries, plus $2,000 for a new server to provide a connection between the clerk?s office, the assessor?s office and the treasurer?s office. All three offices involved have budgeted $2,000 for the server. Also included is a new tax accounting program that Mrs. Urich said would significantly modernize the process by using a bar code for receipts that would help township collectors and would also combine information from programs into one data base in the assessor?s office. It is thought that the system, which would require about $4,000 each from the clerk?s office, assessor?s office and treasurer?s office, would help eliminate the risk of human error on tax statements.
Treasurer Colleen Kidd has also budgeted the $2,000 for the server and the $4,000 for the tax accounting system, as well as $1,500 for a new computer that would be placed on the counter and give public access to tax information. Currently, when a citizen requests tax information on an individual (which is open to the public), Mrs. Kidd or her deputy, Jill Eaton, look up the information. By having a computer available to the citizen, office employees can tend to other business while the citizens looks up whatever information they are seeking.
Mrs. Kidd said the total revenues for her office are estimated at $50,010.40, with $47.550 coming from the collector?s commission and the remainder coming through fees collected in the office. Estimated total expenditures are listed at $65,460, which includes not only a 2 percent increase in Mrs. Eaton?s salary, but also a merit increase for her.
County Assessor Andrea Steinhoff?s proposed budget includes the $2,000 for the server and $4,000 for the automated tax program. In addition, she hopes to receive funding for two new computers to replace two computers purchased in 1998. With five full-time employees and one part-time employee in the office, Mrs. Steinhoff has budgeted the 2 percent salary increases that are on the current salary schedule.
Mrs. Steinhoff said the purchase of the automated tax program would be a service to county residents by allowing property assessment lists to be updated every year rather than totally redone. It?s not just that the public has asked for it, she said, but also that it would be more efficient for county employees, especially since the county is only reimbursed for real estate assessment, not personal property.
Mrs. Steinhoff indicated she has made an effort to hold down her personnel and mileage costs, but assessing all of the property in the county is an expensive venture for which only $55,000 to $58,000 is reimbursable by the state. Total 2003 budget revenues for the assessor?s office are projected at $180,262, while budget requests for the office total $182,360. Last year?s actual expenditures were $170,703.32, approximately $14,000 less than had been projected.
In Circuit Clerk and Recorder Bea Shaw?s office, the only position funded by the county is that of Deputy Recorder Becky Stanturf, with all other employees paid through the State of Missouri. Mrs. Shaw said her main need at this point is computer replacement, to the tune of about $4,500, but the computers were purchased with state funds and will probably have to be replaced through state funds.
It is a certainty that officeholders and department heads will be required to make cuts in their budget requests this year as commissioners try to stop, or at least slow, the trend of a dwindling fund balance. Of particular interest will be whether or not salary increases will be funded this year. Also at risk are new vehicles, computer systems and funding for the University of Missouri Outreach and Extension. While commissioners have said they don?t anticipate cutting any jobs this year, that may not be the case next year. The commission will address specific budget requests, including salaries, during a meeting of county employees scheduled for 3 p.m. Monday at the courthouse. County offices located in the courthouse will close at 3 p.m. that day. A public hearing to receive comment on the proposed budget is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday.