County Council is looking at having to make some tough decisions for the 2022-23 budget.
Council members heard a budget presentation Tuesday during their board meeting.
County Administrator Ron Munnerlyn said there are a lot of expenses in the upcoming year that are unavoidable, such as health service and retirement plan increases.
In the past few years, the county has had enough growth and revenue to cover the cost of living increases and others in the next budget. “This year, we’ve had different things that have resulted in budget amendments during the year,” Munnerlyn said.
Those things added up to $250,000.
Munnerlyn said they are going into working on the budget having used up some of that growth that they could have been used. The other thing is vacant positions, or turnover has saved some money.
County officials are seeing fewer vacancies. Council heard a presentation on revenue. A workshop was scheduled for April 26 to look at expenses.
Council was given a list from departments heads that was about $2.5 million.
“Some are needs and some are wants,” Munnerlyn said.
Department heads will make presentations at the April 26 workshop.
Finance director Wes Park made a presentation on general fund revenues.
General fund revenues and other sources for the fiscal year 2021-2022 were budgeted at $12,825,594.
The estimated revenue and other sources for the upcoming fiscal year is $13,437,104. This is an estimated increase of about $611,510. Park said it was a little less than a 5% increase. The most significant is general taxes. County officials are estimating an approximately $130,000 increase in general taxes.
The county’s portion from the stabilization fund from the state is going to be about $325,000. The other categories, fees or services, fines, license fees, reimbursement revenue looked to be fairly flat. General taxes make up half of the revenue.
Those taxes combined with fee in lieu and an inter-governmental state is about three-quarters of that revenue. The remainder of 25% is comprised of fines, licenses, permits, library funding, reimbursement revenue, transfers, and use of fund balance. The presentation represented no millage increases.
“It is a good sign that you’re seeing more money come in off the same tax bill,” Munnerlyn said.
He emphasized that there were about $2.5 million in requests from department heads.
“So, we’re in a situation where you have got to make some decisions,” Munnerlyn said.
The county has not raised taxes in two or three years.
Another thing council was reminded of is they are in the third year of the solid waste roll cart contract.
So the trash collection has come up, and the company could increase it.
County officials will have more numbers at the workshop.
Munnerlyn said it is not dramatic and it’s not unexpected considering fuel costs.
“So there’s some big topics to look at, discuss and decisions to be made,” he said.
Council approved first reading in title only of the 2022-23 budget.
The entire April 19 meeting of the Marlboro County Council can be found on the Marlboro County Government YouTube channel.