 County OKs Budget
Monday, February 2, 2009
The proposed 2009 Livingston County spending plan has now been adopted following a Friday afternoon hearing in the county commissioners office. According to Kelly Christopher, budget officer, there were no changes made to the proposed $6 million budget prior to its adoption. There were also no members of the public attending the final public hearing.
The 2009 county budget is based on the prediction that the county will experience an 8 percent decline in sales tax revenue. That being the case, the county commissioners did not incorporate pay raises for county employees and elected officials in the budget for the first time in more than 20 years. Specifically, the county commissioners are projecting $915,000 in sales tax revenues in 2009, down over $82,000 from the sales tax revenues the county received in 2008. The sales taxes generating revenue include a quarter-cent law enforcement sales tax, a half-cent general sales tax, and a local option three-quarters of a cent Use Tax. The county does not receive any property taxes.
The 2009 Livingston County budget calls for total expenditures of $6,034,948, total revenue of $6,099,851 for an ending cash balance of $64,903.
According to 2009 budget figures, the county’s general revenue fund has a carry-over balance from last year of $99,260. After 2009 revenues, county commissioners are projecting a total of $1,951,799 in the general revenue fund. However, after the projected expenditures in 2009, the commissioners are anticipating a zero balance by the end of the year.
Lean Budget
Thursday, January 22, 2009
By Laura Schuler, C-T
Livingston County’s 2009 spending plan is projecting an 8 percent decrease in sales tax revenue. That decline, commissioners say, played a major part in proposing a budget that excludes pay hikes for county employees and elected officials for the first time in more than 20 years.
The county commissioners held a public hearing Tuesday on the budget, which totals just over $6 million. The only members of the public attending were members of the local media. The county commissioners are projecting $915,000 in sales tax revenues in 2009, down over $82,000 from the sales tax revenues the county received in 2008. In 2007, the county received $1,002,505 in sales tax revenue.
According to Kelly Christopher, county budget officer, county commissioners had predicted a 3 percent decline in sales tax revenue in 2008. However, last year’s sales tax revenue surpassed the projected $968,110 total by about 1 percent. However, Christopher said that the county has already received its first installment of sales tax in 2009 which is down a whopping 10 percent from last year. “That’s why we’re being very cautious in our projections,” Christopher explained. The sales taxes generating revenue include a quarter-cent law enforcement sales tax, a half-cent general sales tax, and a local option three-quarters of a cent Use Tax. The county does not receive any property taxes.
The 2009 budget is the first since at least 1984 that includes no pay raises for its employees or elected officials. Livingston County East District Commissioner Ken Lauhoff explained, “The funds just were not available to (give pay raises) this year. We certainly hope to do it next year, if at all possible.”
The 2009 Livingston County budget calls for total expenditures of $6,034,948, total revenue of $6,099,851 for an ending cash balance of $64,903. According to 2009 budget figures, the county’s general revenue fund has a carry-over balance from last year of $99,260. After 2009 revenues, county commissioners are projecting a total of $1,951,799 in the general revenue fund. However, after the projected expenditures in 2009, the commissioners are anticipating a zero balance by the end of the year.
A quick glance at many of the county’s funds shows that several are projected to have a zero balance. Christopher says that’s not necessarily unusual in the county budget. “Our county office holders are usually very good about not spending their entire budgets. But, it is very possible (that they may spend their entire budgets) because this is such a tight budget,” Christopher said.
|
The
Proposed '09 Livingston County Budget |
| The
Livingston County Commission held a public hearing Tuesday,
January 20, 2009 on the proposed 2009 county budget which
outlines expenditures and revenues for every county office. This
year's proposed spending plan reflects an increase in
expenditures, less revenues and slim, if any, carry-over
balances into 2010. |
 |
| Funds |
Revenues |
Carry
Over |
Expenditures |
General
Revenue
Road & Bridge
Assessment
Law Enforcement Training
Prosecuting Attorney Training
Prosecuting Attorney Check Fees
Recorder Special Fund
LECP
Child Abuse
Enhanced 911
Planning & Zoning
Law Library
Circuit Clerk
Election Services
Grant
Victim Advocate Grant
Civil
Concealed & Carry Weapons
Treasurer's Tax Maintenance
Use Tax
Crime Reduction
Law Enforcement Sales Tax
Deputy Sheriff Salary Supplement
|
$1,852,539
$1,812,743
$222,107
$5,015
$700
$14,540
$8,450
$1,300
$1,110
$185,591
$11,020
$6,500
$1,000
$4,205
$409,000
$36,364
$25,500
$1,100
$18,000
$150,514
$5,000
$471,000
$26,000
|
$99,260
$247,693
$95
$539
$212
$2,185
$21,630
$7,304
$183
$77,028
$53
$1,405
$6,390
$6,513
$224
$1,420
$22,870
$1,692
$20,454
$111,056
0
$202,187
$670
|
$1,951,799
$2,041,754
$222,202
$5,375
$850
$16,033
$10,000
$8,604
$1,293
$262,619
$11,000
$7,905
$7,390
$9,750
$409,224
$37,784
$43,850
$1,650
$29,630
$252,115
$5,000
$673,121
$26,000
|
|
