Commissioners sign off on 2012 budget

Ozark County commissioners signed off Monday on the 2012 budget, which will include more than $4 million in expenditures. But for the first time in three years the county budget includes projected revenue that exceeds projected expenditures.
In 2010 and 2011 Ozark County outspent its revenue, but officials have managed to rein in spending, despite the added expense of this being an election year.
According to the budget sheet, total revenues of $4,405,047 are projected for 2012 while expenditures are estimated at $4,081,284, with an estimated ending balance of $323,763
County Clerk Lisa Hawkins said in her budget message that election expenses will be approximately $41,000 for the county. "We will also be voting for an unexpired two-year term for county treasurer after the death of David Ford," Hawkins said.
Good news for county employees: officials were able to work in a 25-cent/hour raise for them in the budget. "It's not as much as we would have liked to have given," said western district commissioner Greg Donley, "but at least we are able to give them something." Donley said county employees did not get a cost of living raise the past couple years.
"We're still tight on the budget," said presiding commissioner Dave Morrison. "But we were able to trim here and there and come out in the black."
The county has seen a flatline in revenue since 2008 while expenditures have soared. "The way the fuel prices keep going up, it's putting a crunch on small counties like ours," Donley said.
Ozark County was receiving additional revenue by housing prisoners from Taney County at the Ozark County Jail. But Taney County built a new jail in 2008, and that revenue dried up. Additionally, with the stagnant economy, revenue from property and sales taxes has flatlined.
"To increase our property tax revenue we'd need some new building going on in the county," Morrison said. "There's just none to speak of."
Here are some of the budgeted expenditures for 2012:
• General revenue: $1,238,377
• Law enforcement: $726,239
• Road & Bridge east: $742,518
• Road & Bridge west: $684,325
• Assessor: $140,912
A copy of the entire budget is available for public viewing in the county clerk's office.