 County Adopts 2008 BudgetWednesday, January 30, 2008,
C-T
Livingston County commissioners officially adopted the 2008 budget Tuesday during the final public hearing held in the commissioners room at the courthouse.
The final 2008 Livingston County budget calls for total expenditures of $2,084,526 in the general revenue fund and an estimated ending balance in that fund of $62,029. Total expenditures in 2008 for all funds is estimated to be $4,622,200.
“Thanks to increases in sales tax revenues, the additional use tax revenues and the conservative spending of our county officials, Livingston County is in sound financial condition,” the budget message states. “The county continues to operate without a property tax. Its major source of income, the general and law enforcement sales taxes, reflect increases in revenue during 2007 of 10 percent.”
Specifically, the three largest funds in the county are the general revenue fund, the special road and bridge fund and the law enforcement sales tax fund.
The largest contributor to the general revenue fund is sales tax. In 2008, sales tax is budgeted to supply the general revenue fund with $968,110.
Public safety expenses accounts for a large amount of the general revenue fund at $824,063 which consists of sheriff, jail, prosecuting attorney and juvenile expenses.
Another large user of the 2008 general revenue fund's budget is elections. This year $161,050 is allotted for elections. According to Livingston County Clerk Kelly Christopher, this amount has increased because there will be four major elections in Livingston County this year, two of which (August primary and November general) will be paid for 100 percent by the county. She added that election costs are greater this year because of mandates of Help America Vote Act which causes more expenses in equipment, programming and related costs for the county. Buildings and grounds is estimated to use $154,530 this year. This includes the custodian's annual salary, supplies, utilities, repairs, equipment and other maintenance.
The special road and bridge fund is estimated to have total
funds available of $1,127,421 and the county plans to use nearly
all of those funds. A total of $742,775 will be used for road
and bridge construction in Livingston County. Specifically, the
county plans to finish a soft-match bridge this year and is
beginning two off-system bridges. Another large expenditure of
the county's road and bridge fund is for road and bridge
materials. Specifically, $80,000 is allotted for use in
purchasing lumber, concrete, tubes, and steel. "The road
and bridge fund continues to support upgrading and replacement
of bridges with only two full-time employees," the budget
message states. The
next largest fund for the 2008 budget is the law enforcement
sales tax fund. In 2008, the county budget should have total
funds available of $660,541 and plans to use $563,703. A large
expenditure of this fund, $389,656 is for vehicles, vehicle
maintenance, fuel, upkeep and salaries at the Livingston County
Sheriff's Department and county jail facility.
Livingston County
Expects to Spend Over $4.6 in 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
Livingston County officials met Friday in a public hearing to review the estimated county budget for 2008 which is expected to be adopted by month's end.
Kelly Christopher, Livingston County clerk, the the county commissioners, reviewed the budget draft which will be under review and is available for public inspection in the county clerk's office until Jan. 29 at 2 p.m., which is the date for the next public hearing when the budget is expected to be formally adopted.
The 2008 Livingston County budget calls for total expenditures of $2,084,526 in the general revenue fund and an estimated ending balance in that fund of $62,029. Total expenditures in 2008 for all funds is estimated to be $4,622,200.
The three largest funds in the county are the general revenue fund, the special road and bridge fund and the law enforcement sales tax fund.
County commissioners expect to have $2,146,555 in total funds available for the general revenue fund which supports the basic needs of the county. They expect to use $2,084,526 which should leave $62,029 at the end of the year.
The largest contributor to the general revenue fund is sales tax. In 2008, sales tax is budgeted to supply the general revenue fund with $968,110.
Public safety expenses account for a large amount of the general revenue fund at $824,063 which consists of sheriff, jail, prosecuting attorney and juvenile expenses.
Another large user of the 2008 general revenue fund's budget is elections. This year $161,050 is allotted for elections. According to Christopher, this amount is up because there will be four major elections in Livingston County this year, two of which (August primary and November general) will be paid for 100 percent by the county. She added that election costs are greater this year because of mandates of Help America Vote Act which causes more expenses in equipment, programming and related costs for the county.
Buildings and
grounds is estimated to use $154,530 this year. This includes
custodian's salary, supplies, utilities, repairs, equipment and
other maintenance.
The special road and
bridge fund is estimated to have total funds available of
$1,127,421 and the county plans to nearly all of those funds. A
total of $742,775 will be used for road and bridge construction
in Livingston County. Specifically, the county plans to finish a
soft-match bridge this year and is beginning an off-system
bridge. Another large expenditure in the county's road and
bridge fund is for road and bridge materials. Specifically,
$80,000 is allotted for use for purchasing lumber, concrete,
tubes, and steel.
The next largest fund
for the 2008 budget is the law enforcement sales tax fund. In
2008, the county should have total funds available of $660,541
and plays to use $563,703. A large expenditure from this fund,
$389,656, is for vehicles, vehicle maintenance, fuel, upkeep and
salaries at the Livingston County Sheriff's Department and the
county jail facility. Livingston
County commissioners have been working on the budget for several
weeks and have met with county officials and department heads in
order to formulate the projected 2008 budget. The budget will be
on display on the second floor of the courthouse until the final
hearing which is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Jan. 29 in the
commission room at the courthouse.
Meetings
on 2008 Budget
Monday, January 7, 2008
 CAPTION:
Recorder of Deeds Gordon Smith (second from right) was one
of several Livingston County department heads who met with the
Livingston County Commission today (Monday) to discuss the
county's 2008 budget, which must be approved by Jan. 31.
Pictured with Smith are, from left: Kenneth Warren, west
district commissioner; Eva Danner, presiding commissioner; Kelly
Christopher, county clerk; and Ken Lauhoff, east district
commissioner.
C-T Photo/Laura Schuler
|
