The County Commission approved the final budget for 2020 on Jan. 9.
Auditor Pete Frazier said the budget was similar to the preliminary budget approved on Dec. 16. The only change from the preliminary budget was adjusted income for 2020 and the county’s balance at the end of 2019.
Both changes were due to actual revenue and expenditures from the end of last year, which were estimated in the preliminary budget. The actual balance of county funds was $200,000 higher than expected, and the new estimated county income was raised by $5,000.
The county had a balance of $3.57 million at the beginning of the year. The general revenue for 2020 is now estimated to be around $12 million, with $7.35 million of that revenue coming from sales taxes. The sales tax estimate did not change from the preliminary budget.
The 2020 budget appropriations remained the same, with $13.7 million appropriated in the general fund. The general fund covers most county offices including the sheriff, parks, collector, prosecuting attorney, elections and the county commission.
Road and bridge appropriations total $3.34 million; the assessment appropriations total $995,000, and the Prop 1 appropriations total $7.35 million. The budget requests across all funds total $25.4 million.
• The county commission approved a housing contract with the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri totaling $33,000 for animal control services. The contract amount was the same as the county paid last year.
