County budget will not require levy increase
Staff reporter
Marion County Commission and county auditor Scot Loyd of Swindoll, Janzen, Hawk and Loyd, finalized the 2005 budget proposal with minor changes to be made by Friday. The mill levy will not increase for the proposed budget.
A two percent employee pay raise was included in the budget.
Other budget decisions were:
— Ambulance department: $40,000 to capital outlay for a new ambulance; balance would be $100,000, sufficient amount for a new ambulance.
— Appraisal: $12,000 requested for computers, fax, and CAMA (Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal) updates; $5,000 budgeted for capital outlay.
— Election: funds allocated for eight to 10 new voting machines at $3,000 to $5,000 each.
— Employee Benefit Fund: 20 percent increase for health insurance.
— Steel Bridge Fund: $186,000 budgeted for three bridges.
— Additional adjustments in capital outlay for early bond pay-off of transfer station.
Discussion followed regarding the setting up of the sheriff's department as a separate fund.
Currently the department is part of the county's general fund. At previous meetings, the commission discussed options in making departments that are consistently overbudget more accountable.
Commission chairman Leroy Wetta said if the sheriff's budget was set out separately, the county attorney's budget should be as well.
Commissioner Howard Collett said if that was the case then "we'd better budget for autopsies, etc."
Commissioner Bob Hein asked Loyd if other counties did this. Loyd said yes.
Collett said there were two departments with consistent overages.
"If we separate one out, we need to separate the other," Collett said. "However, the attorney's office is going to get walloped with expenses regarding the U.S.-50 accidents and Smith retrial."
"We know that and can anticipate it," Wetta said.
County clerk Carol Maggard said the commission knows the attorney's budget will be over but the sheriff's deparmtent was getting what was requested.
The question was asked if a department head's budget is depleted, would the commission need to approve expenditures?
Loyd suggested changing the county's policy and wording the voucher that states the department supervisor's signature verifies sufficient funds and budget are available.
When a department runs out of budget, it is out of cash. Loyd said the cash basis law also could be implemented which would restrict the county clerk from signing vouchers without an adequate cash balance.
"The commision could set up a policy restricting the clerk from signing vouchers," Loyd said.
Loyd will check into policy options and report findings to the commission.
The final budget will be presented at the Aug. 9 meeting.
