County budget requests stay in line with last year

Morgan County department heads are sticking close to the levels of funding they received in fiscal 2011-2122, based on figures released during a first review for the 2012-2013 budget on July 24.

Of the eight department budget requests reviewed by Commission Chairman Ray Long and four district commissioners, only two asked for more money than what they received in their 2011-2012 budgets.

Data Processing requested an additional $60,000 to update and replace out-dated equipment and the Archives Department is seeking an additional $35,000 to support the salary of another employee who is transferring from the courthouse maintenance department.

Requests made by the Sales Tax Department, County Engineer, Park & Recreation, Animal Shelter, Decatur-Morgan County Landfill and Environmental Services showed little or no change from the prior year.

The commission will review request from the departments of elected officials at a future meeting.

Long told commissioners he met with each department head on July 23rd to review their budget requests.

“Everyone is doing a good job of staying within their current year budgets and are making mainly level-funded requests for next year.

“We’re doing the budget review differently this year with me meeting with the department heads individually ands reviewing their budget requests,” Long pointed out. I think it will really save time. If anybody want to go back to having the department heads review their budget request with the full commission, we can do it next year.”

Commissioner seemed pleased to be able to move through the budget requests quickly and expressed appreciation to the various department heads for staying within their budgets.

As the budget now stands, each employee will receive a 3 percent cost of living adjustment in 2012-2013, a 40-hour workweek will be restored and health insurance premiums will remain at their present level.

2013 budget requests

Data Processing, $585,546

Courthouse Maintenance, $891,717

One-Cent Sales Tax, $360,533

County Engineer, $792,630

Park & Recreation, $122,045

Animal Shelter, $260,268

Solid Waste (Landfill), $221,076

Environmental Services, $$2,210,939