County faced with budget shortfall
Marion County Commission was given the bad news at Monday's regular meeting that some departments are over budget.
Department heads will be asked to attend Monday's commission meeting to discuss their budgets.
Carol Maggard, county clerk, presented the information in the October budget report. Some of the shortages were anticipated.
The percentage of budget used through October should be at about 83 percent, reported Maggard.
Overall the county is operating at 80.16 percent, which is below the allowable percentage. However, the October report reflected that some departments were over budget.
The commission was concerned about the county attorney's budget at 96 percent and the sheriff's department at 97 percent, with two months remaining in the year.
Maggard's primary concern was the transference of funds to the employee benefits line item, which will be operating at a deficit by the end of the year, and was an anticipated shortfall.
"Right now, the (employee benefits) line item is operating at 89 percent," said Maggard.
The employee benefits line item is for the employee's taxes, social security, health insurance, workers compensation insurance, and KPERS.
She estimates that with additional expenses for November and December, and with reimbursements from the transfer station for their employees, the deficit amount will be around $46,519.
Maggard suggested that one solution could be to not make the year end payment to risk management. Other adjustments may have to be made.
The commission calculated the approximate amount the departments would be over by year end which would be approximately $150,000.
"We've got the responsibility of maintaining the budget," said Leroy Wetta, commissioner.
The commission agreed that the departments that are over their budgets need to get a "handle" on it.
"The county commission has a responsibility to maintain a budget to provide adequate law enforcement for the county," said Howard Collett, chairman. "It is a balancing act to know what's adequate."
Collett added that there are more 911 calls, so more deputies are being sent to take care of situations.
