County budget gap narrows slightly

County Administrative Director Gary Petrovich reported to county commissioners Monday the forecast for current year spending now totals $12.9 million, about $100,000 less than the original projection.

That puts the projected budget deficit at $1,279,000 at the end of this year.

Annual property tax and sales tax revenue was budgeted at a little more than $7 million, compared to $7,556,027 in 2012 and $6,266,465 in 2011.

Of the top 10 county departments, only two are budgeting for less money in 2014. Overall, the 10 departments are requesting $771,596 more for 2014 than they did this year.

Those departments, ranked from the highest budget, are the sheriff, general government, public health, internet technology, district court, auditor, facilities, juveniles services, prosecutor and assessor.

On Oct. 21, commissioners along with department managers, heard that the projected budget deficit is a little more than $1.3 million, about one-tenth of the 2013 budget. This is the difference between the county’s projected revenue and the proposed expenditures of county departments.

Petrovich said the deficit results from decreased revenue and increased expenses.

A chart showing proposed 2014 budgets for 23 departments listed proposals. The top four proposals listed the sheriff’s department with a proposed 2014 budget of $3,469,530, an increase of almost $200,000 over this year; general government, $1,622,852, an increase of $384,230; public health, $1,095,690, a decrease of $71,534, and internet technology, $1,086,987, an increase of $169,751.

“As additional information comes in and if there’s any indication of change, I’ll certainly let you know,” Petrovich said to the commissioners.

The 2014 budget must be finalized by Dec. 31.