Leflore County would not need to increase taxes to meet its currently proposed budget for the coming year, though the schools would require an increase in their standing mill levy, county supervisors were told Monday.
Tony Green of North Central Auditing, which assists governing bodies with budgets, spoke to the supervisors. The board reviewed but did not finalize or approve the budget for fiscal year 2016-17 at its regular meeting.
The proposed $23.3 million budget is an overall decrease of around $1 million from fiscal year 2015-16, due largely to money from the county’s last bond issue.
Citing a need for further consideration of budget requests, the board set a special meeting for 4 p.m. next Monday to vote on the budget. The county will publicly advertise the budget in subsequent weeks, and a public hearing will be held.
Green presented a budget that shows cash reserves of $932,000 after all predicted revenues and disbursements are accounted for.
In the General Accounting Fund, expenses exceed last year’s budget by $382,556, in large part because of a 30 percent increase in health insurance premiums.
Property taxes figured into revenues show an expected increase accounted for by a $6 million increase in assessed valuations in the county.
Green said the county is well below its debt capacity with $19,964,056 total debt. District 1 Supervisor Sam Abraham said that at this time next year, the board will probably have to consider another bond issue.
Concern was voiced over department budget requests that include requests for funding from at-large community entities. After all line items totaling $47,500 are subtracted from a total pot of $81,000, only $12,500 remains to distribute among many organizations that have made requests to the board.
District 4 Supervisor Wayne Self expressed concern that with unexpected expenses sure to come up, the board needed to start thinking seriously about optional disbursements.
Concern was also raised over the cost of running the Leflore County Jail, which Abraham noted was more than it cost to run the Sheriff’s Office. Utilities at the jail alone run $20,000 a month, according to the budget. Supervisors discussed the possibility of increasing rates charged to the City of Greenwood to house inmates placed there by the Greenwood Police Department.
Also Monday, Sheriff Ricky Banks asked the board for money to upgrade the county’s aging emergency 911 system.
A 911 coordinator for AT&T presented a bid for replacing the system that will cost $282,000 for hardware, software, computer upgrades and equipment and as much as $3,300 per month for ongoing maintenance support.
If the up-front charge is financed, it could cost around $5,000 a month, meaning the system could cost the county as much as $7,000 a month for five years, decreasing to maintenance costs only after the up-front costs are paid off.
The board decided to table the matter for further discussion of financing options and close examination of all costs included in the request.
In other county business:
• Banks requested the board’s approval to pursue purchasing 12 new cars for the Sheriff’s Department. He said he had applied for a grant that would make it possible for his office to pay 65 percent of the cost with the county picking up the remaining 35 percent. Abraham moved that the board wait on the grant’s approval before making a decision. The board voted to do so.
• County engineers presented a report on the need for either repairs or replacement of bridges at Blue Lake and Lake Henry, both of which need reinforcement to continue bearing heavy agricultural loads. Costs could run $3 million. The matter was tabled for further research on funding possibilities and more assessment of the sites.
• Supervisors accepted a bid by J.J. Ferguson Company of Greenwood for $999,677 to reseal 5.33 miles of county roads. Three other companies bid on the publicly advertised job with Ferguson offering the lowest bid.
• The board approved renewal of county property, liability and law enforcement insurance with Zurich Insurance Company, as advised by SouthGroup Insurance consultant Buddy White. Other insurance companies would not guarantee full coverage for abandoned or empty buildings, White said. The cost this year is $30,000 less than the previous year, according to White.
• New officers have been approved and hired for the juvenile detention center and the Leflore County Jail.
• Contact Kathryn Eastburn at 581-7235 or keastburn@gwcommonwealth.com.
