By law, the county has until the end of the month to approve a budget. But, the Cole County Commission has scheduled a meeting for Jan. 12 to approve the 2015 budget.
The auditor's proposed total county budget projects slightly less in revenue for expenditures - $61.1 million in 2015, compared to $61.3 million in 2014. Most of the decrease is due to a decrease in licenses, fees and permits due to the completion of the Frog Hollow-Creek Trail Drive shared improvement project with Jefferson City in 2014.
Total expenditures for 2015 would go down to $44 million, compared to $46.7 million in 2014. Most of the decrease is due to completion of large infrastructure projects in 2014, including improvements on Business 50 in Apache Flats and improvements at the county ambulance base on Southridge Drive.
A salary increase of 2 percent for all county employees given as a cost-of-living adjustment is in the proposed budget, along with a pool in each county department for possible merit raises. The county also would continue coverage of health and dental insurance. Last year, the commission did not give employees a raise, but did pick up the cost of an insurance premium increase.
Reserves in all funds are at or above the target level of 8 to 15 percent of basic revenue.
Sales tax revenue, which is the county's major source of revenue, is projected to remain the same in 2015 as in 2014.
Since the auditor's office presented the proposed budget in November, commissioners have been meeting with department heads and elected officials about changes they'd like to see in the final budget.
For the ambulance budget in 2015, there are $572,000 in capital improvement requests with $218,000 of that amount to be used to pay for new cardiac monitors. Five ambulances would get these in 2015, and the other five would get them in 2016. Each unit costs $43,762.
The budget for next year's capital improvement sales tax projects includes $990,000 for the design of the Stadium Boulevard and Jefferson Street intersection, $440,000 for the design of Liberty Road Bridge, $1.15 million for Swift Road/ Boise Brule Road upgrades and $175,000 for Woodward Subdivision curb replacement. There are also $140,000 to go to communities in the county for various projects and $1 million for resurfacing.
The sheriff's department is requesting $391,500 for vehicle and equipment upgrades. The majority of the money, $200,000, would go to replace eight sheriff's patrol cars. They are also asking for 35 body cameras for deputies at $800 each for a total cost of $28,000. There is also a request for 17 vehicle cameras at a cost of $76,500.
In recent weeks, the commission has been looking at possibly funding additional personnel in some departments.
The prosecutor's office is asking for another assistant prosecutor. The county clerk is wanting to hire two people to fill openings in his office, and a second mobile ambulance supervisor is also being requested.
A public hearing for citizens to make comments about the budget will be held prior to the scheduled vote.
The meeting will start at 9 a.m. in the commission chambers and can be seen online at colecounty.org. Click on the link that says "Watch Commission Meetings Live."