During Monday’s Budget Hearing, members of the Marshall County Council spent more than 5 hours reviewing the 2018 budget requests department by department.
Requests for next year’s budget were $12,886,110 in the General Fund and $12,575,977 in the Special Funds for a total budget request of $25,462,087.
Estimated revenues for the General Fund are $12,866,666 which covers the requests made for next year, although council members agreed that their job is to lookout for the best interest of the taxpayers so cuts will be made during the September 11th meeting.
Department heads appeared one-by-one before the council to answer any questions they had on the budget requests. Several departments are looking to replace a copier and Bill Githens agreed to survey all departments to determine the types of copiers they have or need in hopes of purchasing several from the same provider at a significant cost savings.
Many of the budgets for next year only had slight increase, primarily for the 3% salary increase which also increases insurance, PERF and Social Security. Building and Grounds is seeking another person for janitorial services while the Clerk said she didn’t replace an employee and feels she doesn’t need to because the rest of her staff have stepped up to cover those duties. Sheriff Matt Hassel asked to move the full time cook from 35 hours to 40 hours and off-set the cost by reducing the part time cook line item. The county’s building Inspector and Plan Director asked for an additional full-time employee and presented council members with statistics to try and prove their need.
While the county council did approve a couple of transfers shifting about $150,000 out of the Rainy Day fund into the general fund no cuts were made. A couple department heads did offer up reductions in their budgets that the council members gladly accepted.
Council members will continue to review the budgets the next couple of weeks and see if they can find ways to reduce the bottom line. Budget cuts will take place during the budget hearings on September 11th.
