County approves $40.6M budget

The Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners adopted the budget for fiscal year 2012-2013 of $40,673,162 after weeks of wrangling. Interim County Manager Arthur Lawson said the approved budget shows the BOCC is continuing its efforts to maintain the most “fiscally responsible budget possible with the least impact to the taxpayers.”
The millage rate will remain the same as last year at 8.9064, while maintaining the current level or above in county services with out layoffs of any county employees. The county also has established a four-tier medical insurance plan that will save the county money by having each employee pay their fair share of medial insurance. The public works vehicles and equipment needs is also addressed in the budget by scheduling out purchases as cash flow permits.
“This has been a challenging budget process,” Lawson said,
Here are the budget expenditures by fund:
* General fund: 2012 was $18,563,116; 2013 is $17,115,219.
* Courthouse facilities: 2012 was $325,206; 2013 is $325,206.
* Fire control: 2012 was $845,987; 2013
is $956,842.
* Public works: 2012 was $4,237,684; 2013 is $4,921,736.
* PW mosquito control: 2012 was $62,481; 2013 is $85,153.
* Courts: 2012 was $289,264; 2013 is $241,602.
* Sheriff’s Office: 2012 was $7,061,518; 2013 is $6,849,673.
* Library services ( administration): 2012 was $608,946; 2013 is $507,896.
* Library services (three branches): 2012 was $269,229; 2013 is $335,400.
* Tourist development: 2012 was $128,770; 2013 is $145, 875.
* Building Inspection: 2012 was $281,200; 2013 is $285,138.
* Property Appraiser: 2012 was $777,064; 2013 is $728,658.
* Supervisor of Elections: 2012 was $544,291; 2013 is $527,962.
* Emergency ambulance: 2012 was $2,613,450; 2013 is $2,225,738.
* Recycling: 2012 was $70,784; 2013 is $70,784.
* Emergency Management Prep: 2012 was $136,876; 2013 is $136,876.
* E-911 surcharge: 2012 was $250,975; 2013 is $250,975.
* Debt service: 1021 was $3,019,229; 2013 is $3,107,329.
* General Capital Projects: 2012 was $280,000; 2013 is $400,000.
* Hospital endowment: 2012 was $185,857; 2013 is $112,100.
* Interfund transfer: 2012 was $1,343,000; 2013 is $1,343,000.
* All non-profit organizations will be funded at a level 3 percent less than 2012.
* Recording and televising the meeting is no longer a budgeted item. Citizens can access all meeting on the Clerk of Courts website.