Scott County operating budget approved

Security upgrade and roof restoration projects will be completed this fiscal year

scottw@standard-democrat.com

BENTON -- A county budget officer always likes to see higher fund balances but Scott County is doing OK financially and getting things accomplished, according to County Clerk Rita Milam.

The Scott County Commission approved the county's annual operating budget for 2016 during their regular meeting Tuesday.

The budget approved Tuesday is "something we can definitely live within," said Jamie Burger, presiding county commissioner. "As far as the Scott County Commission is concerned, we are comfortable with the budget."

While the budget is "crafted" by the Commission after receiving budget requests from elected officials and department heads, Burger said county taxpayers are "very fortunate with our elected officials and department heads spending money wisely and not spending money Scott County doesn't have."

In the General Revenue Fund, for example, the county actually received $5,274,719.93 last year with a budget that forecast $5,317,993 in revenues for the fund.

Burger said those numbers generally do not reflect declining revenue streams, however, but rather delayed reimbursements that didn't come in before the change of fiscal year for the county.

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