WOODBURY COUNTY WRANGLES WITH PROJECTED BUDGET SHORTFALL

WOODBURY COUNTY SUPERVISORS CONVENED THEIR 2013 BUDGET HEARINGS WITH A NOTICE FROM BUDGET ANALYST DENNIS BUTLER THAT THE COUNTY WAS LOOKING AT A PROJECTED TWO-POINT-SIX MILLION DOLLAR SHORTFALL.

THE COUNTY HAD PREVIOUSLY TOLD DEPARTMENTS THAT THEY HOPED TO ALLOW A TWO PER CENT INCREASE IN THEIR BUDGETS FOR THE COMING JULY 1ST FISCAL YEAR.

BUTLER SAYS THE COUNTY IS LOOKING AT A "WORST CASE" PROJECTION AND HAS SOME OPTIONS FOR THE BUDGET, WHICH TOTALS ABOUT 54 MILLION DOLLARS:



SUPERVISORS TRIMMED AROUND 30-THOUSAND OF THAT SHORTFALL TODAY, INCLUDING A TWO PER CENT INCREASE REQUESTED BY NON-COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES LIKE THE COUNCIL ON SEXUAL ASSAULT.

BUTLER SAYS  CITY TAX INCREMENT FINANCING ALSO PUTS A STRAIN ON THE COUNTY BY REDUCING PROPERTY TAX REVENUES:



BUTLER SAYS THERE'S ALSO A GAP INVOLVING PROPOSED REPLACEMENT OF AGING RURAL BRIDGES.

PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE SCHEDULED BEGINNING JANUARY 16TH IN ANTHON TO DETERMINE IF RURAL RESIDENTS ARE WILLING TO PAY HIGHER TAXES TO HELP REPLACE THOSE BRIDGES.

THOSE MEETINGS ALL TAKE PLACE AT 6PM STARTING JANUARY 16TH AT THE ANTHON COMMUNITY CENTER, JANUARY 17TH AT THE COUNTY SECONDARY ROADS BUILDING IN MOVILLE AND JANUARY 23RD AT THE SALIX COMMUNITY CENTER.