By MIKE MCCOY
Statesman Staff Writer
BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The Stoddard County Commission amended the 2014 budget at their regular meeting Monday following recommendations made by County Clerk Joe Watson.
The expenditures were pretty much on target with the exception of some small over-runs in the Drainage Districts ($1,030), the County Farm ($600.10), the Prosecuting Attorney (PA) Training Fund ($1,220.89) and Recorder Maintenance ($1,299.02).
Watson distributed budget line-item information that showed the county spent $37,830 in Drainage District 1 for cleaning out ditches, mowing and labor. It exceeded the budgeted amount of $18,000. The county did not spend all the money budgeted in the remaining county drainage districts though, which left a shortfall of $1,030.
The budget for PA training was $5,000, with actual expenditures of $6,220.89. The budgeted expenses include hotel, mileage and meals for training as well as wireless internet and association dues.
The budget for the Recorder Maintenance Fund was $20,742, with actual expenditures of $22,041.93. Three new computers were purchased and two more refurbished, which helped account for the added expenses.
The budget included $500 for the County Farm, but expenditures were $1,100. The expenses included payment of advertisement for bids for cutting hay on the farm ($100) and also reimbursement for expenses on the barn ($1,000).
The budget had to be amended for money that is received by the county but goes back out for targeted services. These include $$23,088.67 for court costs, $6,794 for the intangible tax fund, $10,451.86 for the county retirement fund and $2,453.92 for the sheriff's deputy surcharge account.
"Several budgeted expense items are reimbursed by specific revenue receipt," said Watson. "These expenses are equal to the revenue receipts which balance out to a zero effect on the overall budget."
Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis said, "The sheriff's commissary fund did very well this year."
"Yes, the receipts were $21,844,30 above disbursements," replied Watson.
Watson also submitted a list of new accounts that had to be established by the county this year.
The county put $40,000 into a special account to pay legal fees to argue against an appeal by Ameren UE of their property tax assessment. Several counties voted to provide funds for legal counsel. The commission approved joining the other counties by paying the county's share of the legal cost.
Watson said the county set up a special account to deposit $325,000 received from exchanging cash for matching money for the Off-System Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program (BRO). The exchange was made with Greene County.
A special account was also set up for insurance funds that were received after lightning struck the old courthouse and did damage to the courthouse, sheriff's office and other county offices. The county received $25,000 for that account.
A special fund was set up to hold $382,863.25 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and county funds to build a new bridge on County Road 410 that was washed away during flooding. FEMA is paying 80 percent and the county is paying 20 percent. The bridge is currently under construction in Castor Township. The township will pay for the bridge, but the FEMA money had to be received by the county. The county will voucher funds to the township, which will pay the costs.
The county will receive soft-match BRO funds for the portion they are contributing to build the bridge.
A special account was also established for $15,000 received from additional courts costs from litigation in the PA's office.
Commissioner Carol Jarrell made a motion to pass the 2014 budget amendments as submitted by Watson, and it was seconded by Commissioner Danny Talkington. It passed by a 3-0 vote.
In other business, the commission passed a resolution to accept the conveyance of 733 square feet of property owned by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). The land transfer was needed to allow construction of a new bridge on County Road 307. The bridge has already been programmed by the commission to be replaced, but it was found that MoDOT owned a piece of the needed property.
Talkington noted that MoDOT only wanted a resolution from the county initially, and then would prepare the paperwork for the quit claim for the commission to sign. Watson agreed.
Talkington made the motion to approve the resolution, and it was seconded by Jarrell. It passed by a 3-0 vote.
The meeting began with Chris Rowland, Chairman of the Stoddard County Extension Council, presenting a proposed budget for the Extension Service in the county.
"We are not asking for any increases," said Rowland. "The staff we have is good and they are well equipped."
Rowland thanked the commission for their support.
"The staff does a great job," added Jarrell, who attends the Extension Council meetings. "I also want to praise Monie (Monie Brehmer) for the great job she does with 4-H."