County Clerk Don Troutman issued his annual budget message Friday. Here is his report:
As county clerk, it is my duty to prepare the county’s annual budget message. The financial condition of the county has not improved over the previous year. The county ended 2007 with total revenues for the county general fund at $1,657,582.25 and total expenses at $1,889,289.27, which results in a negative figure of $-231,707.02.
The beginning balance for 2008 fiscal year is $243,668.08. This may seem like a large bank balance; however, the money needed for the monthly-approved expenditures for the 2008 fiscal year requires $260,720.52. The 2008 county revenue fund approved expenditure budget totals $3,128,646.32 compared to a 2007 county revenue fund approved expenditure budget of $2,131,060.04.
This increase reflects expected expenditures for the operations and maintenance of the new justice center and county jail. As your county budget officer, it greatly concerns me that revenues are not keeping pace with expenditures. The biggest decrease in revenues reflects changes made by state law on the collections of certain office fees.
Elected officials sought and secured state and federal grants when possible to improve services provided to the county’s residents. Budgets for offices and departments were reviewed and revised.
County employees were afforded wage adjustments in some departments by the county commission. As budget officer, I agreed with some of the adjustments and disagreed with others. Elected officials, excluding those that are paid by the state or those that their wages are set by the state, will not see a wage adjustment this fiscal year.
Voters in April 2006 approved to make the prosecuting attorney a full-time position. Beginning Jan. 1, 2007, the prosecuting attorney began his duties as a full-time prosecutor. With this change, additional compensation has been afforded. The approved annual wage for 2007 was set at $96,000. Additional fringe benefits were also paid. With changes in state laws in 2006 and 2007, the approved annual wage for 2008 is set at $106,181.00, plus fringe benefits. Funding for this position comes entirely from the county’s general revenue fund. The county may receive some federal or state reimbursements for this position from the IVD child support contract.
Effective law enforcement will again be a major concern in 2008. Domestic violence crimes as well as the war on methamphetamine are still major issues facing the sheriff and his deputies. The sheriff department’s fleet of vehicles will be upgraded during this fiscal year. Since many calls are in rural parts of the county, replacement vehicles are four-wheel-drive units. The county will continue buying used vehicles as needed.
The cost of fuel will cause additional funding needs to the sheriff’s department. Money has been set aside to house prisoners outside the county to reduce the overcrowding in the county jail until our new facility is completed. This is also being done for security reasons for some inmates.
Plans are moving forward for the capital improvement projects which includes the construction of a new county justice center, a new county jail, along with major remodeling for the current courthouse facility. Weather permitting, the new facility is expected to be completed in late summer or early fall. Revenues received from the new maintenance sales tax are placed in an interest-bearing account and will be used this year at the new facilities for staffing, maintenance, repairs and upkeep.
In talking to many other counties in the state that have recently constructed new jail facilities, they all caution me about being prepared for the cost it will take to run these new facilities. They are really surprised that our residents saw far enough in advance to see that funding will be available as needed.
I supported the two sales tax issues in 2005, one for paying for a new facility and one for the staffing, maintenance, upkeep and repairs of the new facilities. As your budget officer, I will do my best to insure that the revenues approved by the voters are spent prudently. Interested residents that have questions regarding the details of the capital improvement projects and their budgets are invited to stop by my office.
With the passage of a new law in 2005, the office of township collector ended March 1, 2007. The treasurer-ex-officio collector’s title changed to collector-treasurer on that date also. The collector-treasurer collected all taxes excluding real and personal property collected by city government. When the general assembly approved this change in the law, they also provided funding for the office. Therefore, the county will not have yet another unfunded mandate to contend with.
Until the new justice center is completed so that judicial offices can relocate there, office space will be a major concern for county government.
I encourage all taxpayers to make sure they complete and return their 2008 assessment list as soon as possible. Failure to file your assessment list in a timely fashion could cause penalties to be added to your tax bill. When returning your assessment list, make sure names, addresses, legal descriptions, vehicles and other personal property are reported correctly.
If done properly, a taxpayer should avoid any delay at tax paying time. Statements will be mailed to all taxpayers during October or early November. If all information is correct, I would encourage payment by mail this year as this would make paying your taxes very easy and convenient. A paid receipt will be sent to you at no cost. If taxpayers decide to pay their taxes in person, be prepared to wait in line during the peak periods of the collection process.
I remind and encourage our senior citizens to take advantage of the tax credit known as the “Circuit Breaker Law.” It is a sure thing that seniors can take advantage of to help reduce their property tax burden. The county assessor’s office can help in supplying the necessary paperwork for this tax credit.
I, along with other state and county election officials, will be requesting changes in the current state and federal laws dealing with the election process. The programming cost for 2008 elections will increase the county budget. The state and federal governments need to provide funding to the counties if they demand additional rules and regulations. Residents having questions regarding the election process are welcome to contact me.
The 2008 Texas County budget includes 40 different funds. As requested by the county officials that have various segregated funds, the county commission and I have allowed full use of available funds if requested. This type of budgeting has received criticism from the state auditor and un-informed residents.
We have funds that are held in trust. Interest earned is distributed to the designated parties. These funds include the Hutchason Cemetery Fund and the Garner Covert Memorial Fund. A listing of all funds along with the 2008 appropriated amount can be found on pages 4a and 4b of this year’s budget.
Additionally, the county commission and I will be reviewing the budgets from the county habilitation board, county health board, county library and county law library when they are submitted. I believe that any and all public funds should have a budget and be accountable to the residents of our county.
Some offices and departments have not submitted required budgets to the county commission or the county’s budget officer. As budget officer, I have no legal authority to require these be completed. It is very disappointing that this simple task is not completed by a few.
As the county’s budget officer, I take the duties and responsibilities of this office very seriously and will continue to do my best for what I believe is the best for the county and its residents. During the year, if you have questions regarding the county’s operation, please contact me. It is a pleasure serving the residents of this county as a public official.
Respectfully submitted,
Donald R. Troutman, county clerk and budget officer, Texas County