Barry County Commissioners approve 2016
February 3, 2016
Charlea Mills
Barry County Commissioners Cherry Warren, Wayne Hendrix and Gary Schad approved a significantly larger budget for 2016 last week. Presiding Commissioner Cherry Warren said, “We’re getting our reserve built up. The sales tax is our major revenue stream for county operations. We don’t do a property levy like some counties do, and we’ve had a couple good years for sales tax.”
The approved budget for 2015 was $4,090,686, and the approved budget for 2016 is $4,518,008. The biggest increase between the two years is a much bigger portion being dedicated to the county’s emergency fund. Last year’s emergency fund approval was $119,000, and this year’s total is $566,000. Warren said, “Agriculture isn’t as strong as it has been. We’re taking precautions so that we can operate if we have a bad year. We live and die by the sales tax.” The increase is a preparation to protect the county against low sales tax revenue years.
One big budget change was for the Sheriff’s Department. Warren said that the circuit clerk’s office was requesting an additional three full-time bailiffs at the Judicial Center, which equated to an $80,000 increase over last year’s budget for that office. Warren said that instead, the commissioners approved the same budget for the circuit clerk’s office, $34,200, but made arrangements with the Sheriff’s Department to get more coverage at the Judicial Center for high-traffic days, like law days each month when felonies are heard.
Warren said, “So, what we did is put reserve officers down there when they need it. They are paid hourly and don’t have benefits, which works for those reserve officers and us, as well.”
Between budgeting for the extra reserve officers’ time and an additional full-time deputy, the Sheriff’s Department budget went from $685,997 in 2015 to $769,244.80 in 2016. The department will also receive four new patrol vehicles, as well. However, those are paid through commission funds. Each new patrol vehicle is being purchased through Les Jacobs Ford of Cassville for $26,597 with an additional $3,000 per vehicle allowed for equipment.
This year’s budget also included an increase in office supplies from $68,300 to $120,100. As a big election year, there was also $86,398 budgeted as opposed to $56,499 for the elections budget line. Also among the budget approval was a 3 percent pay increase for county employees. That percentage changed the employee benefit budget from $545,308 to $612,111. There were also budgetary measures made to account for increasing health insurance premium costs.
This year also marked a change in revenue being spent toward the Monett TIF payment. Last year, the county had to dedicate $264,000 in TIF payment, and this year, that money can be spent elsewhere.
For 2016, the county estimated revenues at $3,790,301. With the current cash available as of December 31, 2015, the county estimates $4,977,837 available for 2016. The county budgeted $4,206,869.68 of that, allowing for an estimated cash balance at the end of the year of $770,964.32. So, while the budget shows a large increase for 2016, there is still a significant allotment for incidental expenses and possible decrease in revenues.
Charlea Mills
Barry County Commissioners Cherry Warren, Wayne Hendrix and Gary Schad approved a significantly larger budget for 2016 last week. Presiding Commissioner Cherry Warren said, “We’re getting our reserve built up. The sales tax is our major revenue stream for county operations. We don’t do a property levy like some counties do, and we’ve had a couple good years for sales tax.”
The approved budget for 2015 was $4,090,686, and the approved budget for 2016 is $4,518,008. The biggest increase between the two years is a much bigger portion being dedicated to the county’s emergency fund. Last year’s emergency fund approval was $119,000, and this year’s total is $566,000. Warren said, “Agriculture isn’t as strong as it has been. We’re taking precautions so that we can operate if we have a bad year. We live and die by the sales tax.” The increase is a preparation to protect the county against low sales tax revenue years.
One big budget change was for the Sheriff’s Department. Warren said that the circuit clerk’s office was requesting an additional three full-time bailiffs at the Judicial Center, which equated to an $80,000 increase over last year’s budget for that office. Warren said that instead, the commissioners approved the same budget for the circuit clerk’s office, $34,200, but made arrangements with the Sheriff’s Department to get more coverage at the Judicial Center for high-traffic days, like law days each month when felonies are heard.
Warren said, “So, what we did is put reserve officers down there when they need it. They are paid hourly and don’t have benefits, which works for those reserve officers and us, as well.”
Between budgeting for the extra reserve officers’ time and an additional full-time deputy, the Sheriff’s Department budget went from $685,997 in 2015 to $769,244.80 in 2016. The department will also receive four new patrol vehicles, as well. However, those are paid through commission funds. Each new patrol vehicle is being purchased through Les Jacobs Ford of Cassville for $26,597 with an additional $3,000 per vehicle allowed for equipment.
This year’s budget also included an increase in office supplies from $68,300 to $120,100. As a big election year, there was also $86,398 budgeted as opposed to $56,499 for the elections budget line. Also among the budget approval was a 3 percent pay increase for county employees. That percentage changed the employee benefit budget from $545,308 to $612,111. There were also budgetary measures made to account for increasing health insurance premium costs.
This year also marked a change in revenue being spent toward the Monett TIF payment. Last year, the county had to dedicate $264,000 in TIF payment, and this year, that money can be spent elsewhere.
For 2016, the county estimated revenues at $3,790,301. With the current cash available as of December 31, 2015, the county estimates $4,977,837 available for 2016. The county budgeted $4,206,869.68 of that, allowing for an estimated cash balance at the end of the year of $770,964.32. So, while the budget shows a large increase for 2016, there is still a significant allotment for incidental expenses and possible decrease in revenues.
