Budget Committee Surprised Again

The Jefferson County Budget Committee met preceding the County Commission Work Session on Monday, June 9, 2014 in the Historic Jefferson County Courthouse.  The Meeting was Called to Order of Vice Chairman Dockery. Absent from Roll Call were Commissioners Griffith and Blevins. Commissioner Turner sat in for absentee Commissioner Cureton.

With a Motion from Committee Member Akard and 2nd from Committee Member Carmichael, the Minutes from the May22, 2014 meeting were Approved.

Jefferson County Finance Director Helton brought four County and two School System budget amendments, general housekeeping and non impacting (highway department requested use of funds for project previously discussed). Akard made a Motion to approve the amendments as a group and was 2nd by Turner. The Motion to Approve amendments was successful.

Finance Director Helton informed the Committee that the State Certified Tax Rate had come in slightly above projections at $ 2.28, which is an increase of 13 cents above the 2013-2014 rate. He stated that one tax penny will be worth $113,500 which is $3,000 below last year’s rate. Helton stated that he had preliminarily distributed the absorption of the 13 cents (in case the County Commission did not want to raise the rate) with a loss of 5 cents to the County and 5cents to the schools-one cent to debt, one cent to highway department and one cent to sanitation. Helton informed the Committee that the Sate Certified Tax Rate is the amount of tax it will take to bring in the same amount of revenue as the 2013-2014 fiscal year, in essence keeping the County even. Recent drops in property assessments for many in the County will offset the increase in the State Certified Tax Rate, however those that did not see a drop in their assessment will feel the impact of the increase in the State Certified Rate. This amount only takes the County to even and does not address any overages in the 2014-2015 fiscal year budget.