Budget shortfall concerns commission
Staff writer
Working around budget shortfalls will be one of the first issues Marion County Commissioners tackle in the new year.
"What will we do about the first six months of next year?" Commissioner Howard Collett asked fellow commissioners Monday. "And there will be more cuts coming in July for sure. What kind of steps do we need to take?"
The county is expecting a $315,000 shortfall in state revenue after Gov. Bill Graves cut $48 million in demand transfer payments to cities and counties. That money would have been for the remainder of the year and the first part of 2003.
"If the economy continues to slide we'll be in even bigger hurt next year," Collett said. "Some counties are cutting personnel. They must have no reserves at all."
Commissioner Leroy Wetta said he had asked County Clerk Carol Maggard to investigate options.
Earlier in the meeting, Commission Chairman Bob Hein passed around a copy of a newspaper article which explained how Labette County Commission was laying off staff.
Maggard said the county would not be receiving the December payment which would directly impact the road and bridge department. Maggard said she would have more information during the Dec. 23 meeting.
In other matters:
— Commissioners approved a zoning change for Elsie Friday based on recommendation of the Marion County Planning Commission. The change rezones an area at the point of southeast quarter of 9-21-2 of East Branch Township from agriculture to rural residential.
— Commissioners heard terms for Irvin Ediger and Glen Unrau, two members of the Planning and Zoning Commission, were up; and heard Elora Robinson had resigned from her position. No replacement was determined.
— Commissioners approved a liquor license for Marion Country Club.
— Appointed Maggard as fair housing contact and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator) for the Marion County Microloan program.
— Heard county workman's compensation claims were down, and all except one claim had been closed for the year. Maggard noted all had been "small pays" of less than $100 "which should help us next year," Maggard said.
— Heard from Gerald Kelsey, road and bridge superintendent, the Kansas Department of Transportation had scheduled a pre-construction conference Wednesday regarding a bridge project scheduled to start March 1.
— They also approved a transport fuel bid from Cardie Oil, Inc., Tampa, for $8,433.70.
— The commission awarded a bid to Hoch Publishing, Marion, to print Marion County Lake brochures, and to Baker Brothers Printing, Hillsboro, to print permit books.
Lake superintendent Dale Snelling said he would need to encumber current year funds to purchase materials to rebuild picnic tables and pay labor costs for the work to be finished. Snelling also plans to encumber funds to purchase fish next year.
— A special meeting is Thursday to conduct interviews with transfer station job applicants and for the closing of the bond sale, transfer of funds, and purchase of the transfer station from KC Development.
