Marion County Board Finance Committee Chair Chris Krupp says major cuts will be needed to balance the county’s budget for the coming fiscal year that begins December 1st.
His comment came at Tuesday night’s board meeting after county officials made their requests for the coming year at a daylong session last week.
“The revenue projection is down, the cost projection is up, and there’s a 1.5 million dollar deficit right now,” said Krupp.
Krupp says they want to eliminate the $1.5-million shortfall so next year’s budget is balance without dipping into contingencies or the past surplus.
“It’s going to be a big task, a lot more than last year. We’re starting out in a much bigger hole but we’re going to have to figure it out.”
Krupp says most of the increases requested were for higher salaries for non-union employees. The board will also have to budget for pay increases already negotiated with some of the unions, while contract talks are just starting with the Fraternal Order of Police at the Sheriff’s Department.
Krupp says the $4-million balance at this time last year is down to $1.7-million, but the general fund is expected to have some rebound with incoming property tax revenues. Board Chair Debbie Smith noted the zero percent increase in the property tax levy last year is costing the county $253,000.
With the decline in county finances, the board was questioned during open forum of how a $403,000 window replacement project at the courthouse wound up being a $900,000 loan that will tie the hands of future boards. Krupp explained the loan will pay for not only the windows, but $75,000 in window and door replacement at the public service building and an undetermined amount for back up power and generator for the courthouse that still has to be bid.
The board approved an ordinance authorizing Debbie Smith to sign all documents requested by People’s National Bank to complete the $900,000 loan agreement.
