The DeKalb County Commission’s Budget Committee has finished its recommendations for the 2023-24 fiscal budget, which will include a property tax rate increase by of .2692 cents from the current level of $1.7308 cents. The property tax rate would go to $2.00 per $100 of assessed value if passed. All of the increase would be slated to go into the county general fund.
According to the county’s financial advisor/fiscal agent, Steve Bates, the rate hike is needed to offset inflation and salary increases the county budget has seen in recent years. “With the 0.2692 cent property tax increase (if approved by the county commission) revenues will exceed expenditures in the county general fund now by $15,946, so you are still balanced and the fund balance as a percentage of revenues and expenditures is 30% and that is a good number,” said Bates.
During the Budget Committee’s final meeting, the Highway Department’s operating budget was approved. Road Supervisor Danny Hale asked for no additional local funding, saying that his department will be benefitting from a $2.5 million allocation from the State Aid Highway Program Investment fund made possible through the Governor’s Transportation Modernization Act which was approved earlier this year by the Tennessee General Assembly.
“I have $191,000 in my state aid road (budget) right now. I also have $700,000 plus for state aid bridges. On July 1, I am getting $2,515,518 but this is one time money coming to the county from the state so when you put all those expenditures together its $3.7 million for state aid projects and from the $2.5 million allocation, I will have that to spend over the next three years for state aid roads and bridges,” said Hale.
With the proposed tax increase, the Budget Committee looked hard at other areas of the budget and where to make cuts. The committee voted 6-1 to cut the $5,000 non-profit contribution to WCTE. Committee member Sabrina Farler voted no. WCTE announced that they would not broadcast the Smithville Jamboree with without $15,000 in funding. Representative Michael Hale had secured a $7,000 grant to WCTE, while the Jamboree Committee had allocate $3,000 from their funds. The $5,000 difference was to come from the county. Officials hope that local television providers such as DTC-TV will take over the broadcast.
The committee also approved a request by County Clerk James L. (Jimmy) Poss’ for the county to fund half of a new full-time position in his office. The salary for the position, including benefits, is $43,600 for a first-year employee, with the county paying half or $21,800. Poss later said he might have enough earmarked funds to pay for more than half of the salary.
The committee also voted unanimously to recommend to the commission approval of all county budgets in consolidated form.
The budget committee also voted to restore $39,176 in funding for workers at solid waste convenience sites. Funds were previously cut in a cost-saving move by the committee on May 9.
A motion to fund a request by County Fire Chief Donny Green for an expenditure of $50,000 to purchase a new SUV for the fire department fell short. Chief Green said he understood the position the committee was in this fiscal year.
Another request also fell short, this time for new portable digital radios with dual band/multiband frequency capability for the county’s emergency services departments. Motions to fund 10 new radios for a total of $36,000, then five new radios, both failed. The county would have to purchase 200 plus portables and several main units to fully update the county’s needs. New equipment at E-911 would also have to be purchased to make the change to digital.
The county commission will take up passage of the budgets and property tax rate during its next regular scheduled monthly meeting on Monday, June 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the county complex in the auditorium of the Mike Foster Multipurpose Center.
A copy of the 2023-24 proposed budget has been published in this issue of the Smithville Review.
