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Local News - May 2002 |
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$70 million budget proposed By ALICE SMITH, LTN Staff Writer May 22, 2002 - The proposed 2002-2003 county budget will not increase taxes. County Manager Stan Kiser presented a $70,286,566, budget Monday to the board of commissioners Monday. The total net budget after transfers is $70,286,566 — an increase of $1,646,142 over last year’s budget. It has no tax increases. The county’s general fund will increase by $847,962, bringing the 2002-2003 total to $59,956,521. Kiser cited two factors that “continue to drive the budget in Lincoln County.” The first is the growth in population and services, particularly schools. The next installment of the $36 million school bond is $19.5 million. This installment will require an additional $1.6 million in county funds. The budget does allocate enough money to pay the bonds, as well as an 8.5 percent increase in the expense part of school funding. There is a 2.5 percent cost of living increase for county employees. Kiser said paying for Medicaid will take $3.1 million for the coming budget year. The second factor is the state’s distressed financial situation. The budget is “greatly impacted” by the state’s withholdings of county funds. Commissioners held a budget workshop Tuesday to discuss the proposed budget. School officials were present. Superintendent Jim Watson presented the school’s $11,295,933 request for county funds. The proposed budget includes $10,641,011 in school appropriations, an 8.57 percent increase over last year’s funds. Commissioner Tom Anderson said he had received a letter from a student who was concerned that commissioners weren’t funding the schools. “I hope you understand we’ve done as much as we can do,” Anderson said. “People should understand that money to schools was increased substantially.” Commissioners and school officials discussed a possible 1 percent sales tax for education, and Commission Chairman Jerry Cochrane said that needed to be pushed in the General Assembly. “This is not a good year for a tax increase,” Cochrane said. “If we don’t get the (state) reimbursements, citizens know there will be a tax increase next year.” School officials expressed gratitude for the county’s help. “I know we’re not getting what the proposed budget asks for,” said Jean Dellinger, school board chairwoman. “But we’re appreciative of the fact that the mandated expenses are taken care of.” Watson said he appreciates the relationship between the school and county officials. “We appreciate the confidence they have in us making our school system high quality,” Watson said. “Despite budget constraints, they made education high priority.” Anderson said that even if the budget is adopted, it’s not permanent. “(We) hope as the year progresses, we might get lucky,” Anderson said. “There is such thing as a budget adjustment.” A public hearing for the budget will be held at the June 3 commissioners meeting.
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© 2001 Lincoln Times-News |
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