The Lee County Board of Supervisors is already seeing emergence of a worrisome budget trend for next fiscal year.
Supervisor Gary Folluo said it's a trend of the state backing away from its commitments.
"Different administrations handle things differently," said Folluo. "Right now, it just seems like everything from the state is being pushed off on the county."
Folluo said a good example is the Children First program, which provides resources to families of children below the age of six.
He said it started out as a program that would be state-funded, but after years of reductions, the county is being asked to contribute as much as it can.
"The county has to make that hard decision -- whether to use taxpayer dollars to fund (it)," said Folluo. "Certainly was a discussion (Tuesday) and will be a discussion Thursday I am sure."
The Supervisors will hold a special meeting to discuss the budget on Thursday, Feb. 5.
State funding is also an issue for the Health Department, the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Division, and the Secondary Roads Department.
The spending plan being considered by the supervisors currently shows a $1.3-million dollar shortfall with spending ($32.9-million) outpacing revenues ($31.6-million).
That does not take into account a series of requests
- Sheriff's Office - New Computers
- Information Technology - New Employee
- West Point Legion - Headquarter Improvements
- Donnellson Library - Fundraising Campaign
- Children First - Financial Contribution
- Lee County Library Association - Funding Increase
For each request granted, the supervisors will have to find somewhere to cut, use reserve funds, or increase the tax rate.
Right now, the county hopes to provide some relief for taxpayers. It projects a tax rate decrease of $0.40, which would allow the rate to drop to just under $10.90. The urban rate would hold steady at $8.42.
The Board of Supervisors must have the budget finalized before March 15.
