Stone County Amends 2018 Budget Due To Increased Tax Revenue
|
November 15, 2018
|
|
Isaac Estes-Jones
The Stone County Commission accepted an amended county budget for the first time in at least a decade on Thursday, November 8. “This is due to unexpected sales tax revenue,” said Peggy Griffith, speaking for the Stone County Clerk’s Office. Cindy Elmore, Stone County Clerk, was not present at the meeting and Chief Deputy Clerk Donna McConkey requested Griffith speak to the need to amend the budget. The county reports that tax revenue for the year is up about 12%.
Presiding Commissioner Dennis Wood said, “I’ve been doing this nine years, and we’ve not opened the budget before. But, these funds have come in and the need to appropriate some of that.”
Overall, the 2018 budget was amended to account for $884,859 in increased revenue. Of that revenue, $182,704 was appropriated to various expense accounts and the remaining $702,155 was left to carry-over into next year’s budget.
“I won’t be involved next year,” said Wood, who is retiring at the end of this year, “but I hope these two will continue to grow our reserves. With this, we can grow into an even more secure county in the future.”
Another area of revenue that grew unexpectedly was the “Flood Control” fund. Monies in that fund come from the federal government because of Table Rock Lake. When the lake was created, the county lost money from that property that is now underwater. The county is never certain what that amount will be, the commissioners told The Chronicle. In this case, the actual amount is some $83,500 higher than originally budgeted for.
Because the budget was opened, approximately $182,704 in additional expenses was allocated. “We know some actuals now, so we could make the adjustment,” said Kristi Stephens, Stone County Treasurer. Most of the expense increases can be accounted for by increases in TIF payments and increases in payments to workmans compensation.
Also of note, an additional $3,000 was added to the Coroner’s expenses, for a total of $6,000 in 2018. This is due to a Missouri Statute that says the coroner’s pay must increase when dealing with three or more bodies. Such events, sadly, have occurred twice in Stone County this year, with the disaster of July 17 and the murder-suicide in Branson West earlier in the summer.
Dennis Wood said, “I want the people of Stone County to know and trust that we endeavor to best use their tax dollars wisely and appropriately. It is an awesome responsibility to be trusted with this money.”
The Stone County Commission accepted an amended county budget for the first time in at least a decade on Thursday, November 8. “This is due to unexpected sales tax revenue,” said Peggy Griffith, speaking for the Stone County Clerk’s Office. Cindy Elmore, Stone County Clerk, was not present at the meeting and Chief Deputy Clerk Donna McConkey requested Griffith speak to the need to amend the budget. The county reports that tax revenue for the year is up about 12%.
Presiding Commissioner Dennis Wood said, “I’ve been doing this nine years, and we’ve not opened the budget before. But, these funds have come in and the need to appropriate some of that.”
Overall, the 2018 budget was amended to account for $884,859 in increased revenue. Of that revenue, $182,704 was appropriated to various expense accounts and the remaining $702,155 was left to carry-over into next year’s budget.
“I won’t be involved next year,” said Wood, who is retiring at the end of this year, “but I hope these two will continue to grow our reserves. With this, we can grow into an even more secure county in the future.”
Another area of revenue that grew unexpectedly was the “Flood Control” fund. Monies in that fund come from the federal government because of Table Rock Lake. When the lake was created, the county lost money from that property that is now underwater. The county is never certain what that amount will be, the commissioners told The Chronicle. In this case, the actual amount is some $83,500 higher than originally budgeted for.
Because the budget was opened, approximately $182,704 in additional expenses was allocated. “We know some actuals now, so we could make the adjustment,” said Kristi Stephens, Stone County Treasurer. Most of the expense increases can be accounted for by increases in TIF payments and increases in payments to workmans compensation.
Also of note, an additional $3,000 was added to the Coroner’s expenses, for a total of $6,000 in 2018. This is due to a Missouri Statute that says the coroner’s pay must increase when dealing with three or more bodies. Such events, sadly, have occurred twice in Stone County this year, with the disaster of July 17 and the murder-suicide in Branson West earlier in the summer.
Dennis Wood said, “I want the people of Stone County to know and trust that we endeavor to best use their tax dollars wisely and appropriately. It is an awesome responsibility to be trusted with this money.”