Early Discussions Begin On 2018 County Budget

Crawford County Clerk John Martin discussed a couple of items Tuesday as work begins on the 2018 budget.

Commissioners decided to extend a hiring and salary freeze while also considering the removal of $5,000 from the budget for a prosecuting attorney’s office employee who resides and works in Iron County. The money goes towards fuel, vehicle maintenance and meals.

That employee has been claiming mileage when driving back and forth between the courthouse and Iron County.

While Martin admitted $5,000 may seem like a “pittance” in the overall budget, it’s a luxury. “This is business,” he said. “I understand people wanting to be reimbursed, but these things can be itemized and taken off their taxes. There’s people making (lots of) money asking for mileage reimbursements.”

No decision was made by the commission at this time.

“If we’re going to save money…I hate to nickel and dime it, but we’ll nickel and dime it,” he said. Martin told commissioners he uses his own personal vehicle to run errands and puts upwards of 30,000 miles on his car without claiming reimbursements.

“He’s collecting less from the county than putting it on his taxes. The feds pay 54 cents per mile. He gets 36 cents from the county,” Martin said.

Presiding Commissioner Leo Sanders said he didn’t think the county should be paying the employee mileage when its already paying for vehicles.

Budget discussions will continue over the next few weeks as the commission works to put something in place by the end of January.

The county’s general revenue sales tax is down compared to this time last year and currently at its lowest point since 2013.

A little over $1 million had been collected through October, compared to $1.094 million in 2016. The county posted a 4 percent decline in October 2017 compared to October 2016. This followed a 7 percent decline from September 2016 to September 2017.

In October, the county collected $64,050.76 compared to $66,957.53 in October 2016.

Sullivan Independent News

Sullivan Independent News
411 Scottsdale
Sullivan, MO 63080

Phone: 573-468-6511
Fax: 573-468-4046

 

general@sullivannews.net
sports@sullivannews.net
advertising@sullivannews.net
billing@sullivannews.net