CHARLESTON - Mississippi County commissioners approved the county's 2004 budget following a public hearing during their regular meeting Thursday.
With revenues estimated at $1,446,204 and $1,446,153.60 in appropriated expenditures, the general revenue fund is "basically a 'dollar in, dollar out' budget," according to County Clerk and Budget Officer Junior DeLay.
Consequently, the projected year-end balance of $686,228.87 is nearly the same as its beginning balance of $686,178.47.
"Operating expenditures for each operating department within this fund mirror that of the previous year as county officials who operate from this fund continue their prudent financial management," DeLay said in his budget message.
With the county no longer acting as the pass-through agency for SEMO Drug Task Force grant funding, both revenues and expenditures are much lower than in previous years when the Task Force funding inflated them.
While the recovering national economy may have a positive impact on the sales tax-dependent general revenue fund, the key to it staying in good shape is the county's detention center supporting itself, according to the budget message.
"Over the past two years, the Detention Center has approached revenue maximization but expenditure levels have continued to rise at an alarming rate," DeLay said. He predicted nearly $300,000 will be transferred from general revenue to the law enforcement fund this year.
In the Road and Bridge Fund, DeLay forecast revenues at $825,500 and appropriated $855,750 for expenditures.
"This fund will be financially challenged this year as funding levels are lower than they have been in several years," said DeLay.
The Assessment Fund's "revenues have been adversely affected by the state's financial woes as county reimbursement levels have been reduced from $6.20 per parcel to $5 per parcel. Mississippi County has a parcel count of 9,259, thus the reimbursement level from the state has been reduced by approximately $11,000," DeLay said, "however, this figure will be offset by the County Commission's implementation of the 'occupancy bill,' which will generate approximately $10,000 for this fund."
DeLay said that considering last year the General Revenue Fund made the largest-ever transfer to the Assessment Fund of $54,000 and anticipating the transfer this year of $55,900, DeLay advised "the County Commission to exercise its veto power on spending decisions that are deemed not prudent or necessary to the operations of the Assessor's Office in order to minimize the rising cost to the General Revenue Fund."
For the Law Enforcement Fund, DeLay budgeted for $2,339,657.08 in revenues, appropriating $2,339,545.66 in expenditures covering operations of the Sheriff's Department, the Detention Center and the Juvenile Detention Center as well as debt service on the detention centers' building.
"In summation, it is quite evident that our county could experience some financial distress in the next few years if spending in the law enforcement area is not curtailed," DeLay said. "It is imperative that steps be taken to curb expenditures in that fund without sacrificing the safety of our residents and our employees."
In other Mississippi County business:
* Commissioners are already getting feedback on the installation of the county's rural water system. "I am getting a lot of complaints," said Presiding Commissioner Jim Blumenberg said.
Drainage in ditches has been impeded from cave-ins and culverts have been blocked, according to Blumenberg.
"We'll get them fixed," said Darren Kincy, an engineer for Green and Associates, "if they'll just let us know where they're at."
About 100 miles of water lines have been laid so far, according to Kincy.
* Commissioners reviewed a letter from the Missouri Department of Public Safety congratulating the county on the approval of $6,742.65 in funding for the county's Health in Detention proposal at the Juvenile Detention Center.
The letter advised application changes must be made to include a pre- and post-test on training.
The county is also asked to "do some sort of trend analysis on the youth receiving services through this funding" such as looking at immunizations or dental care even though it will be a short-term program.
* A letter from the State Emergency Management Agency regarding federal funds for hazard mitigation projects was reviewed by the Commission.
"Significant funds remain for eligible mitigation projects," DeLay said. The grants still require a 25 percent local match.
The letter advised the Federal Emergency Management Agency has stated its opposition to sirens as mitigation projects but suggested projects such as the acquisition and demolition of flood-prone structures; construction of tornado safe rooms; and moving above-ground electrical lines underground.
"It sounds like they have more money than they know what to do with," said Homer Oliver, commissioner.
* DeLay advised commissioners of Stoddard County's application for a local record grant to index road records.
If Stoddard County is approved, Mississippi County should apply as, unlike ditch records, roads typically have "just a hodgepodge of records," DeLay said.
* Commissioners renewed the annual service agreement for the Retired Senior Volunteer Program which is funded by the county's Senior Citizen Sales Tax.