For the first time in several years, the Marion County Board will be presented a tentative budget Tuesday night that projects the fiscal year beginning December 1st to finish in the black.
The projected budget presented to the finance committee Friday has a $281,000 positive balance after expenditures of just over $9-million. Last year the county was looking at a negative balance of $900,000 entering the year.
The county is employing Bellweather to help with a budget projection for the first year and company officials say the turnaround is the result of being more accurately able to look at all revenue sources. They are not seeing a big decrease in any revenue as a result of COVID-19 for the coming year as revenues have held up in all but the court system which is expected to rebound now that all types of court hearings have resumed.
The tentative budget does not include any settlement on a new contract with the Fraternal Order of Police at the Sheriff’s Office. It does include a $300,000 contingency fund for unexpected expenses.
The committee was told that $593,000 set aside for the county in federal CARES money will be used to reimburse salaries in the sheriff’s department and go back into the county’s general fund.
There are several additions to the tentative budget the full board will consider Tuesday night. They include providing each board member with a laptop computer for county business. The estimated cost is $6,370.
Finance Committee Chair Dr. Creighton Engel has met with XT Solutions about a county website and e-mail accounts for all county board members as well.
“We have more communication and accessibility by the general public. You know things are going to work a lot better but I agree we got to get this up to speed.”
Several county officeholders including Supervisor of Assessments Mark Miller, Treasurer Gary Purcell, and Clerk Steve Fox encouraged the technology improvements to get into the 21st century.
The committee is also recommending an increase in salary for long-time ESDA Coordinator Donnie Brooks from $11,250 a year to $28,800 which is the same part-time salary the coroner receives. Engel says Brooks has been tremendous in what he has brought to the county during COVID-19.
“It’s thousands and thousands of dollars of things he’s acquired and no-one knows that. The PPE that he’s acquired for everyone right now is unbelievable.”
Engel noted it was not just the county, but medical facilities and schools have all benefited.
County Board Chair Debbie Smith notes Brooks is “worth the money” and like the coroner, he is on duty 24/7, but busier. The only no vote came from committee member Erwin Hahn.
The tentative budget includes money for the same number of employees and one new squad car. Smith says a new used vehicle for the animal control officer will be taken care of during the current budget year that ends December 1st.
After the Tuesday night meeting, the tentative budget will be open for public review at the county clerk’s office.
The County Board will meet at seven Tuesday night via telephone conference call due to COVID-19 concerns.
