County’s general fund OK

LISBON - With less than four months to go in the year, Commissioner Jim Hoppel said the general fund income appears about 2 percent over estimates.

"Everything's going fairly smooth at this time," he said.

Commissioners have been keeping a close eye on income and expenses for the fund relied upon by a majority of county offices, amid worries about the economy having an effect on sales tax income. Dwindling home sales or real estate transfers were also having a negative effect on income for auditor and recorder fees.

For this year, $18,887,446 was certified as the expected income for the general fund, but the Budget Commission certified an additional $700,000 of the cash carryover from 2007.

At the end of August, the actual income for the general fund totaled $13,166,255. The expenses totaled $12,199,516.

"I have been pleased with the numbers we're getting right now," Commissioner Penny Traina said, adding they knew gas prices would have an effect on the budget.

With any budget, unforeseen expenditures can come up, she said, but "being conservative within a budget is being good fiscal stewards of the taxpayers' money."

The commissioners will begin work on next year's general fund appropriations soon, with budget hearings planned for October and November with officeholders and department heads.

Commissioner Dan Bing previously wanted to try a different method for appropriations, using a group approach where officeholders all get together to hash out who gets what. The idea didn't fly last year and apparently didn't catch any takers this year either.

Bing said he talked to a few people and they didn't want to do the group method. He said he would like to be able to do it because it would give everybody an opportunity to see what's there, but nobody else appeared interested.

Hoppel explained that they always look at past appropriations and past expenditures, estimate the money to be available and go from there. Revenue and expenses have to add up to the same amount. Expenses can't exceed revenue.

General fund revenue for 2009 has been estimated at $18,415,593, but requests submitted by officeholders and department heads totaled $21,939,632, so commissioners will have some cutting to do.

"When we come together and look at the budget, we're not saying departments don't deserve that money," Traina said, adding they do have to live within the budget.

"We're a nonprofit organization here," she said, noting they can't just sell more of some product to make more money.