Budget overruns and new projections showing dwindling collections of court fines had Warren County officials Monday discussing employee furloughs and more cuts to departments and services.

The gap between spending and revenue is on track to be $415,000 beyond last summer’s projections, County Administrator John Smith said during a budget update.

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Much of the total can be traced to the justice system, where indigent defense costs are much lower this year, but still more than allocated.

Expenses in felony cases where defendants told circuit judges they couldn’t afford an attorney are on pace to hit $387,320.06 for 2009-10 — nearly 24 percent less than in 2008-09, but about $100,000 more than budgeted. The same is predicted for justice court, where defense costs will surpass the previous year by more than 23 percent. In youth court, where parents of juvenile offenders usually pay fines, costs to provide legal defense may jump nearly 19 percent.

The topic is receiving renewed interest as a study for a new jail enters its final stage. Under consideration by a committee of county officials including both circuit court judges, the district attorney and others is a plan to implement a public defender’s office to replace an appointment system using private attorneys. Consensus is forming around three or four staff attorneys appointed by the senior circuit court judge.

Fine collections are down, with youth court fees forecast at 76 percent less than last year. Collections from circuit court and justice court may drop 27 and 24 percent, respectively.

Other items in the update:

• A possible 15 percent overrun on personnel costs in the sheriff’s department due to higher continuing education requirements. Overtime costs tend to increase due to the training-related absences.

• Another short check from the state for reimbursements on homestead exemptions. One payment was short $55,100 compared to last year.

• Higher contributions to retirement, which increased to 13.5 percent from 12 percent this year and is $20,000 under estimate, Smith said.

• Legal fees from the Paw Paw Road federal and chancery cases and those dealing with medical leave time for employees, a combined $25,000 more than estimated.

While unlikely in departments such as law enforcement and roads and more likely for employees for which the county pays only part of the salary, such as security for the Department of Human Services office for which state-ordered breaks have already hit, furloughs must at least be considered, officials said.

“I do not have the cash reserves to handle these problems,” Smith said.

Areas that may see reduced allocations include Parks and Recreation, which may not see the next $75,000 of its already-reduced $350,000 annual funding; nonprofit agencies for which funds haven’t been allocated; the set-aside fund for advertising county resources, often tapped to pay for ads in football programs and other functions that attract tax dollars; and deductibles on employee health insurance plans, which could go up from $500 to $1,000, and co-pays for prescription drugs.

Supervisors set a budget each August and a levy in September to fund county and school operations, with most revenue coming from real and personal property and car tags. The board did not raise the tax rate for this year, but did expect more revenue due to slightly higher property valuations.

The City of Vicksburg follows the same budgetary calendar and also did not increase tax rates for this year. Officials have not discussed furloughs, but have said raises will be scrutinized. City revenue also includes a rebate of part of the state sales tax collected inside municipal boundaries. 

Contact Danny Barrett Jr. at dbarrett@vicksburgpost.com