Committee puts tax talk on back burner, decides instead to tighten belts more

BY TOMMY JACKSON

Editor    10/19/2000

Though County Judge Bob Parish has been saying that the County General Budget is headed for trouble for the past year and a half, it became painfully clear at last night's quorum court budget committee meeting just how bad the situation really is.

The county's elected officials have submitted budgets next year for their individual departments totaling $5,271,083. The only problem is that amounts to 91.5 percent of the projected county general revenues for 2002, and by law, the county cannot budget more than 90 percent of the projected revenues. That amounts to $5,183,862, and while that is the absolute maximum permitted, it is not without its problems. One, the sheriff's department budget has been trimmed by $60,000 which will likely mean the elimination of at least two positions in the department. Also, the budget allows for no salary increases for any county employee in 2002. (Step grades and retirement will be funded.)

Various speakers at the meeting, including Judge Parish, county treasurer Waylon Heathscott, and committee chairman Bud Osborn, all stressed at various times in the meeting how much they hated to see law enforcement cut. Osborn noted, "We've never gone into a year at 90 percent." Osborn and Parish also noted repeatedly that the problem is being experienced all over the state and is no one's fault. "Everything has gone up," Osborn said, particularly insurance.

Parish presented an idea, which he called a "tough position" for the court, where the justices could raise the county's millage rate from the current rate of 1.9 mills to 3.0 mills. Parish presented a handout to the committee which showed the seven counties which touch White County all have millage rates at least 1.5 more than White. They are as follows: Cleburne, 2.5; Faulkner, 2.8; Independence, (continued from page 1)

4.6; Jackson, 4.4; Lonoke, 3.5; Prairie, 4.0; and Woodruff, 5.0.

In 2001, White collected $638,400 in real estate taxes and $372,000 in personal property taxes. A 1.1 mill increase would bring in an additional $584,982. And according to the judge, a home valued at $100,000 would result in a homeowner's increased millage at $21 and one valued at $50,000 would see a yearly increase of $10.50.

Most of the JPs appeared hesitant to raise the millage, which a quorum court can do under state law up to five mills without going to the voters. Parish said he is like other people and doesn't like increaed taxes either, but "the people elected to do our jobs and leave politics out of it."

What the court ultimately opted to do was to accept the 90 percent budget and urge department heads to watch spending the remainder of the year and try to start 2002 with a bigger carryover than anticipated. Also the committee voted to implement a voluntary hiring freeze throughout the county the remainder of the year (except in emergency situations). The freeze will become mandatory if county attorneys say Judge Parish has the authority to make it such. Parish plan to check with the attorneys this morning.

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