Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

2005 budget amended

For those county departments overspending during 2005, the Nevada County Quorum Court amended the 2005 budget.

This was done Monday, Jan. 9, at the Courts regular meeting. Nevada County Judge James Roy Brown said several departments were over budget for the year.

He recommended the Court appropriate $70,000 from the countys carryover money to pay the bills. This amount, Brown said, would also leave enough to pay for any late arriving expenses, as happens at the first of the year.

Brown explained the budgeting requirements, saying counties can only budget 90 percent of their anticipated revenue by law. The remaining 10 percent is a contingency fund for dire emergencies, such as the snow and ice storms of 2000 and 2001. Otherwise, the money is used as carryover funds so counties can appropriate money for those departments going over their budgets.

In 2005, he said, there were some unforseen events which resulted in departments spending more than was budgeted. One of the biggest problems was the price of gasoline going over $3 a gallon. Another was an increase in the countys insurance premiums.

Brown said this appropriation is usually done in February and March when all the bills are in. However, there are vendors wanting and needing their money right now. The total amount of known bills is about $41,000. He suggested appropriating $70,000 in case of late bills.

The Court went along with Browns recommendation.

In other business, the Court approved the reappropriation of $144,000 for the countys Office of Emergency Services. Basically, this gave OES Coordinator Jim Cross permission to spend the money on new radios and communication equipment. The funds are through the Department of Homeland Security.

However, before the money can be spent, Cross will have to submit a budget to the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) for approval.

The Court also approved the budget for the Nevada County Extension Service in the amount of $16,000. Brown said the state will be advertising for the position left open when Candace Carrih accepted a similar job in Camden more than a year ago. This slot could be filled by March.

The subject of vehicles for the Nevada County Sheriffs Office came up. It was said patrol cars from Missouri have been purchased in the past, and a 2002 model with 55,000 miles can be bought for $11,400, while a 2003 model can be bought for $12,700 and an 04 for $13,750. A new car from North Point Ford would be $20,000 not equipped and $22,000 with the police package added.

At this time the NCSO has no spare car and all department vehicles are being used. Part of the problem is the long-distance transporting of prisoners the NCSO does.

Chief Deputy Larry Miller said he would prefer if the county bought two used cars instead of one new one, as this would give the NCSO a spare.

The problem, Brown said, is money. Until the final bills come in and are paid so the county knows how much it has from the carryover funds, he said, there isnt enough in the 2006 budget for this. He asked if the NCSO could hold on until March or April when a revised budget could be done.

Willie Wilson, a justice of the peace, suggested taking money from the contingency fund to buy at least one car.

Brown pointed out this money is to be used only in the event of dire emergencies, such as natural disasters. But, he agreed to contact the state auditors and see if this constituted an emergency situation and report back at the February meeting.

The contingency money, he said, is also used as carryover funds to pay bills from departments that went over budget during the year.

Donnie Crain, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office, said he has talked to Congressman Mike Ross about this, and is looking other places for funds to buy new police cars with.