The Moniteau County 2019 budget includes modest wage increases for employees and funds to address road and bridge needs. The estimated revenues for the year are a little more than $5 million.
Inflationary pressures have been presenting challenges to the budget process. In order to remain competitive in the current labor market, the commission agreed to modest raises in order to offset increased health insurance premiums and other labor market pressures. Other inflationary factors are accounting for increased spending needs in nearly every area of the county budget.
The Moniteau County Commission will strive to continuously monitor revenues and expenditures in order to keep efficient county services, Presiding Commissioner Mac Finley said.
The Road and Bridge Fund began the year with a total balance of $434,222.20 and is estimated to receive revenues to total $1,754,522.20. This revenue includes a 25 percent portion of Capital Improvement Sales Tax. The action is one the commission addresses each budget year, according to the minutes of Jan. 21, 2014. The Moniteau County Commission will, in the future, direct what percent of the Capital Improvement Fund to be transferred to the Road and Bridge Fund.
The fund has approved appropriations in the amount of $1,630,356. The Road and Bridge Fund, in 2018, purchased a brush cutter, mini excavator and a road grader.
In 2019, plans are in the making to completely replace a bridge on Gamble Road. This project will be paid for by the MoDot Bridge Replacement Program. Due to unsafe conditions, the bridge was closed last year and a temporary bypass was put in place. Finley said his team is currently “in the preliminary process” of designing a replacement bridge.
The Capital Improvement Fund has a beginning balance of $1,353,206.43 and is estimated to receive revenues in the amount of $483,000. The fund has approved appropriations for the amount of $794,000.
In 2018, the fund was used to install new lighting in the courthouse along with new courthouse doors. In addition to this renovation, several offices received new paint and flooring. The approved appropriations for repairs and upkeep to the county courthouse total $10,000 and $784,000 is set aside for the ongoing support of county government operations.
All other officer use and special usage funds have a total combined balance of $620,337.20 to begin the year. Estimated revenues for 2019 are $498,410.50 while the approved appropriations for this fund are $410,905.24. This will leave the funds with an estimated ending balance of $595,684.59.
Moniteau County began the 2019 budget year with funds that amounted to $2,417,162.25. The estimated revenues for the year are $5,013,625.50 with approved appropriations in the amount of $5,718,748.56 which will leave the county with an estimated ending balance of $1,712,039.19.
Property taxes are the source of the estimated revenue. The taxes will represent 19 percent of the total revenue in the amount of $952,000. Sales tax collections, which includes $1,366,000, will represent 27 percent of the total revenue. Intergovernmental revenues are estimated to be 28 percent of the total; officer fees, interest and miscellaneous revenues in the amount of $498,410.50 represent 10 percent and transfers in the amount of $784,000 will stand for 16 percent of the total revenue.
The year began with the General Revenue Fund accounting for a balance of $9,396.42 and is estimated to receive revenues in the amount of $2,584,645. The General Revenue Fund has approved appropriations in the amount of $2,581,402.32. The maintenance and operation of the county jail, sheriff’s department and prosecuting attorney’s office accounts for 56 percent of the total appropriations in the amount of $1,434,058.24.