County aims to bolster reserves in new budget year
Published 12:00 am Saturday, July 30, 2011
Costs for defending indigent clients in Warren County’s legal system are on pace to rise once the fiscal year ends Sept. 30, and officials say that will hinder balancing the upcoming budget and funding pay raises and new positions.
Figures presented during budget talks Friday showed bills to the county for defendants in circuit, justice and youth courts who claimed they could not afford a lawyer could reach $321,000 this year, roughly $20,000 more than what supervisors had planned when the current budget was worked out nearly 11 months ago. That total is down from a high of $500,000 in 2009. At the core of the board’s budget talks is building up a $2.185 million cash reserve.
“Are you asking for a decision of some sort?” District 4 Supervisor Bill Lauderdale asked County Administrator John Smith as the board pondered a working draft outlining $14.7 in spending and $14.6 in revenue. “Or are you just telling us where we’re at?”
Car-tag fees the county receives from the state are an unknown on the draft budget, and real and personal property values fell 1 percent this year, creating a $44,441 shortfall. Assessments from public utilities are expected in August and the Vicksburg Warren School District has assured supervisors it won’t ask for more funds.
“All I’ll tell you is I don’t think it’s a good idea to rely on the other revenue to help pay for requested expenses,” Smith said. “If you’re going to do it, you’re going to have to raise taxes. I don’t think the public can stomach a tax increase.”
A hearing for the public to air objections to their property values for 2011-12 is set for 9 a.m. Monday. A final budget for 2011-12 is expected to be considered Sept. 6. Current millage rates are 40.53 in the county, 46.2 for schools and 35.88 inside Vicksburg.
Funding for the sheriff’s department and jail total $3.6 million and $1.3 million, respectively, and this year feature fewer requests for supplies in an effort to preserve the chance for a 10 percent pay hike for deputies and clerical staff. More than $3.7 million in items to be spent in the Road Department include 5 percent raises for non-supervisory workers. Pay raises are also listed in the Information Technology Department’s request. A third assistant district attorney for District Attorney Ricky Smith is being considered to continue a staffing model he contends helped move criminal cases through the system.
Other new spending items under review include:
• A new vehicle for the Information Technology Department, estimated at $25,000.
• Pay raises for court reporters and administrators for circuit court judges Isadore Patrick and Jim Chaney, plus a new copier in Patrick’s office, estimated at $7,115.
• An additional $9,779 for constables acting as bailiffs in justice court.
• A case worker for Youth Court, estimated as a $56,993 addition to last year’s allocation.
• An extra security guard for Youth Detention, estimated as a $27,873 addition to last year’s allocation.
• Allocations to 14 charitable agencies amassing $194,380. The board has kept cuts enacted last year intact in the total.