Supes adopt new budget following public hearing

The Webster Progress-Times

WALTHALL - Supervisors on Monday accepted the proposed new budget for Webster County as is following a public hearing.

The county's ad valorem tax levy will increase by 7.52 mills, from the current 107.49 to 115.01 mills, to support the budget for fiscal year 2010 that begins Oct. 1.

A mill is a $1 tax for every $1,000 of assessed property value. The county estimates that a general fund mill will bring in $50,150, down from $52,039. School millage has a projected value of $53,051, down from $54,287.

The largest tax levy increase is a 4.57-mill hike for school maintenance and the next largest is a 1.25-mill increase for a school shortfall, with total millage requested by the school system being 43.25 mills. The School Board adopted a resolution earlier this month declaring a revenue shortfall for the previous fiscal year. County officials said decreased tax collections from car tag sales resulted in school and general county shortfalls.

The budget also includes increases of 1.09 mills toward repayment of a 1999 equipment bond and of 1.07 mills for the E911 system. The general fund levy shows a decrease of nearly 1 mill.

Board attorney Buchanan Meek Jr. reviewed the budget for those attending the mid-morning public hearing in the courtroom. Budgeted expenditures include $108,828 toward a "jail building," representing a little over 2 mills in the general fund levy.

Supervisors propose to build a new jail in the northeast corner of the vacant Garan building; Meek said they anticipate work will not begin until 2010.

The only concerns expressed during the hearing regarded a $5,000 decrease in funding for the Webster County Development Council - from $15,000 to $10,000. Voicing support of the organization were Mary Frances Baker and Belinda Stewart, mayors of Mantee and Walthall, respectively; and Mike McCully, president of the WCDC board of directors. Executive Director Cynthia Wilson was also present.

Stewart said she was concerned about the cut by one-third of the county's funding for Development Council "when it's so important." Many new businesses have opened and others have expanded because of the organization's efforts, she asserted. She asked the board to reconsider the budget cut and noted that the state has legislation under which counties can assess millage for economic development rather than a set dollar amount.

Robert Hitt, president of the Board of Supervisors, responded, "We cut everywhere that we could." This included road and bridge budgets even though, he said, the county roads are in "terrible" shape.

McCully pointed out that Webster is one of the few counties where all municipalities have had sales tax increases during the economic downturn. While he expressed appreciation for what the supervisors have done, McCully also said he did not want to see funding cuts cause the Development Council to have to shut down.

Discussing the budget back in the boardroom, including the concerns expressed by the WCDC supporters, Hitt said, "I say leave it where it is." He also said the board needed to keep taxes down as much as possible because so many people are without jobs.

Linda Crowley (District 4) made the motion to adopt the $7.43 million budget as proposed and Charles Rivers (District 3) seconded, with all five supervisors voting aye.