County sets FY 2019 budget, approves salaries

Board of Supervisors
By: 
Kim Brooks
Express Editor

     While the Jones County Supervisors approved the adoption of the Fiscal Year 2019 county budget, approval of elected officials’ salaries was met with some contention.

     Prior to the March 13 board meeting, the board hashed out and discussed the Compensation Board’s recommendation for the salaries of elected officials, which was a 4 percent increase across the board.

     When approving the budget, the board voted 3-1, with Supervisor Wayne Manternach opposed, to set a 3.6 percent increase for County Attorney, Auditor, Recorder, Sheriff, and Treasurer, and a 2 percent increase for the Board of Supervisors. (Supervisor Joe Oswald was absent.)

     In adopting the FY 2019 budget, total expenditures were set at $19,768,137, including a decrease of $74,602 to reduce the county’s mental health fund balance. Thirty-nine percent of the FY 2019 expenditures are expected to go toward wages and benefits for county employees. The remaining includes: services, 18 percent; supplies, 14 percent; conservation and trail projects, 14 percent; roadway construction, 9 percent; equipment, buildings and land, 9 percent; debt services and misc., 2 percent; and medical services, 1 percent.

     Total revenues were set at $17,849,480. This would also include a reduction of $74,000 to $75,000. The biggest piece of the FY 2019 revenues are projected to come from property and utility taxes (44 percent) and intergovernmental; tax credits (41 percent). The remaining includes: other taxes, 5 percent; proceeds of long-term debt, 3 percent; misc., 3 percent; charges for services, 3 percent; delinquent taxes, penalties, and interest, 1 percent; use of money and property, 1 percent; licenses and permits, 1 percent.

     The countywide tax rate per $1,000 was set at $6.00392. The rural tax rate per $1,000 was set at $2.66759.

     The board also designated portions of the unreserved fund balance:

     • General Basic Fund – county facility improvements

     • General Supplemental Fund – voting equipment replacement

     • Secondary Road Fund – unused local options sales tax for roads and bridges

     The board also approved amending the FY 2018 budget.

     Proposed reductions included:

     •  Juvenile Services – reduction of $8,201

     • General Assistance – reduction of $5,852

     • Conservation Capital Projects – reduction of $1,285,174

     • Central Park Lake Project – reduction of $658,106

     • Mental Health Case Management – reduction of $38,305

     The FY 2018 budget after the amendment shows $19,465,761 in total revenues and $20,511,785 in total expenditures.

     County Auditor Janine Sulzner informed the board that not all of the county departmental budgets have changed, but the majority have.

 

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