County OK's budget

After weeks of number crunching, the Bourbon County Commission has passed a budget with an increase less than was originally published.

On Aug. 10, the county published a budget reflecting a mill levy of 62.292, an increase of 4.71 mills. However, through further cuts the commission passed a $9.83 million budget for 2012 on Monday morning with a levy of 61.462, a increase of 3.88.

A public hearing was held Monday in which the only attendees included the commissioners, Bourbon County Clerk Joanne Long, Bourbon County Counselor Terri Johnson, and Terry Sercer, of Diehl, Banwart, Bolton CPAs.

"I can't believe it," Commissioner Harold Coleman said of the lack of public attendance at the hearing.

The 3.88 mill increase remains higher than the commission wanted, but represents a vast improvement over the original 11.5 mill increase they started with several weeks ago. To help get to that point, the commission made several major cuts. Every elected official, including the Bourbon County Appraiser, is taking a 5 percent pay cut for one year. Additionally, $23,400 was reduced from Road and Bridge personnel, $3,982 from the Road and Bridge debt service fund, $22,004 from County Treasurer personnel, and $22,702 from employee benefits.

"This is a tight budget," Sercer said, adding these are actual cuts in the budget, not cuts in increased spending. "There's not a lot of contingency in this budget."

The nearly $4,000 cut to the Road and Bridge debt service fund was originally $10,000 higher before the public hearing. Commissioner Allen Warren expressed interest in putting $10,000 back into the budget in case repairs need to be made to aging equipment.

"I think it's pretty wise. I'm worried about road and bridge," Sercer said.

Sercer told commissioners that they are going to have to keep a close eye on the county's expenses throughout the remainder of the year. If each department finishes the year as projected, the county should be fine, Sercer said. However, if unexpected costs arise, the county could be in trouble for the 2011 budget.

Warren said with the county already over budget on fuel expenses, despite consuming less fuel than last year, the commission will have to watch spending as the end of the year approaches.

"It could put us over in a heartbeat," Warren said.

Despite the increase in mill levy, the county commissioners have worked hard since 2010 to minimize the bleeding. In terms of the spending of tax levied funds, the county has cut $385,000, excluding the cost of employee benefits. Between the 2011 estimated numbers and the 2012 projected numbers, the county's spending has increased by $150,000, however, the spending of tax dollars has decreased by just over $102,000. Total spending since 2010 has decreased by $102,000.

The rising cost of employee benefits has had a large impact on the county's budget. Sercer said that while the employees may be disappointed for not receiving raises for the last few years, they can feel comfortable that they have good benefits.

"You do have good insurance for your people," Sercer said.