Commissioners to discuss proposed 2016 budget
January 13, 2016
Charlea Mills
On Thursday, January 21, the three Barry County Commissioners will vote on the final budget for 2016. Each of the county’s departments have submitted their department requests for the year, which included a 3 percent pay increase for county employees.
According to Barry County Clerk Gary Youngblood, the proposed budget is $4,167,271. That number is around $76,595 more than the approved budget for 2015; however, the actual budget came in significantly less than what was proposed in 2015.
The approved budget for 2015 was $4,090,686, which was $612,734 less than what the county actually spent for the year. So the difference between the actual total spent in 2015 and the proposed budget for 2016 is $689,319.
Other than the pay increase for county employees across the board, different departments requested additional funds for varying reasons. Under building and grounds, an additional $9,811 is requested to compensate for anticipated rising utility costs, such as electric and water, according to Youngblood. The county’s building and grounds is requesting $197,479 for the year.
A big increase will also come for employee benefits. Healthcare is a rising cost, said Youngblood. This year, they are requesting $614,700 versus the $545,308 in 2015. He said they do not anticipate workers compensation coverage or health insurance premiums to stop increasing any time soon.
Janice Varner, county collector, is requesting an additional $16,586 for an additional mileage, software and training purposes.
One of the biggest increases is requested by the circuit clerk’s office for an additional $78,400 for three additional bailiffs.
The Sheriff’s Department is asking for an extra almost $79,000 for another deputy and moving a part-time secretary from the jail to be a full-time secretary in the Sheriff’s office. The jail is requesting a small pay increase of around $5,000 for employees as well as standard increases related to general operation like food.
The Prosecuting Attorney’s office is also asking for a small increase of around $7,000 for pay increases.
The final budget will not be determined until the county commissioners vote on Thursday, January 21.
Charlea Mills
On Thursday, January 21, the three Barry County Commissioners will vote on the final budget for 2016. Each of the county’s departments have submitted their department requests for the year, which included a 3 percent pay increase for county employees.
According to Barry County Clerk Gary Youngblood, the proposed budget is $4,167,271. That number is around $76,595 more than the approved budget for 2015; however, the actual budget came in significantly less than what was proposed in 2015.
The approved budget for 2015 was $4,090,686, which was $612,734 less than what the county actually spent for the year. So the difference between the actual total spent in 2015 and the proposed budget for 2016 is $689,319.
Other than the pay increase for county employees across the board, different departments requested additional funds for varying reasons. Under building and grounds, an additional $9,811 is requested to compensate for anticipated rising utility costs, such as electric and water, according to Youngblood. The county’s building and grounds is requesting $197,479 for the year.
A big increase will also come for employee benefits. Healthcare is a rising cost, said Youngblood. This year, they are requesting $614,700 versus the $545,308 in 2015. He said they do not anticipate workers compensation coverage or health insurance premiums to stop increasing any time soon.
Janice Varner, county collector, is requesting an additional $16,586 for an additional mileage, software and training purposes.
One of the biggest increases is requested by the circuit clerk’s office for an additional $78,400 for three additional bailiffs.
The Sheriff’s Department is asking for an extra almost $79,000 for another deputy and moving a part-time secretary from the jail to be a full-time secretary in the Sheriff’s office. The jail is requesting a small pay increase of around $5,000 for employees as well as standard increases related to general operation like food.
The Prosecuting Attorney’s office is also asking for a small increase of around $7,000 for pay increases.
The final budget will not be determined until the county commissioners vote on Thursday, January 21.