2023 county budget presentations
August 31, 2022 at 6:52 p.m.
Union County municipal department heads presented their 2023 proposed budgets at Union County Council's Aug. 18 meeting.
Union County auditor Cheryl Begley informed council the estimated max levy for 2023 is $2.5 million; requested budgets exceed that levy by around $300,000. Begley advised there are some cash reserves available, but recommended caution spending down those reserves, especially for recurring costs like payroll.
Union County assessor Diana Baker requested a reassessment deputy, which could be funded from the reassessment fund. While she would like the position to be full-time, she would offer the position part-time to start before the candidate was ready to seek the necessary certifications.
Union County Highway Department superintendent Jeff Bowers expressed concerns about staffing, having just lost another worker who was returning to school. Bowers is having trouble attracting CDL drivers with the pay rates offered by the county, especially as the cost to obtain a CDL has risen to $5,000. In the past the county has helped new employees with the cost of obtaining a license, but they quickly leave for better-paying employers.
Likewise, Sheriff Dale Dishmond reported difficulty keeping road deputies and jailers on staff and requested raises for his staff, after losing seven employees over the past year. Food services in the jail are still an unknown for 2023 after the jail's provider sent down a significant price increase. Dishmond has sought alternatives and continues to look for a viable option to reduce costs.
The parks and recreation board requested $10,000 to hire a part-time coordinator position for the park and a 50 percent increase to its professional services budget.
Union County Health Department supervising nurse Kim Klein requested moving two positions in the department from part-time to full-time, citing an increase in workload and revenue coming into the department.
After reviewing the remainder of the proposed budgets, council closed their meeting and will hold a workshop at its Sept. 15 meeting to look for those $300,000 in cuts.
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Union County municipal department heads presented their 2023 proposed budgets at Union County Council's Aug. 18 meeting.
Union County auditor Cheryl Begley informed council the estimated max levy for 2023 is $2.5 million; requested budgets exceed that levy by around $300,000. Begley advised there are some cash reserves available, but recommended caution spending down those reserves, especially for recurring costs like payroll.
Union County assessor Diana Baker requested a reassessment deputy, which could be funded from the reassessment fund. While she would like the position to be full-time, she would offer the position part-time to start before the candidate was ready to seek the necessary certifications.
Union County Highway Department superintendent Jeff Bowers expressed concerns about staffing, having just lost another worker who was returning to school. Bowers is having trouble attracting CDL drivers with the pay rates offered by the county, especially as the cost to obtain a CDL has risen to $5,000. In the past the county has helped new employees with the cost of obtaining a license, but they quickly leave for better-paying employers.
Likewise, Sheriff Dale Dishmond reported difficulty keeping road deputies and jailers on staff and requested raises for his staff, after losing seven employees over the past year. Food services in the jail are still an unknown for 2023 after the jail's provider sent down a significant price increase. Dishmond has sought alternatives and continues to look for a viable option to reduce costs.
The parks and recreation board requested $10,000 to hire a part-time coordinator position for the park and a 50 percent increase to its professional services budget.
Union County Health Department supervising nurse Kim Klein requested moving two positions in the department from part-time to full-time, citing an increase in workload and revenue coming into the department.
After reviewing the remainder of the proposed budgets, council closed their meeting and will hold a workshop at its Sept. 15 meeting to look for those $300,000 in cuts.