The 2013 budgeting process is under way for the Finance Committee of Mississippi County's Quorum Court, and options are limited for a shrinking amount of available funds.
The budget plans are beginning with a $1.8 million shortfall -- a difference between projected revenues and expenditures that Justice Michael White said must be made up either in new revenues or further cuts to budgets which have been trimmed of their fat several years ago. In addition, all CDs held by the county general fund were cashed out over the past year to make the budget work, leaving that fund with no safety net.
This shortfall includes projections of increased revenue from the millage increase enacted by the Court last year. Without that increase, the shortfall would have been more than $2 million.
White, chairman of the Finance Committee, told the group that starting the process in the hole is not a new experience for the county.
"It's been this way for the past two years," he said. "But now there's not a lot of fat anywhere in anybody's budget left to cut. There won't be any easy answers. There are a lot of things we may have to look at as options that we haven't in the past."
If the county were to make cuts across the board in order to balance the budget, it would be necessary to chop 14 percent off of the budget of every department.
"It looks like we're getting to the point where you're talking about cutting services," said Justice Fred Fleeman.
"We probably will be at that point," said Justice Bill Nelson. "I think it's here."
Several things were pointed out by committee members to have caused the heavy strain on county coffers this year -- chief among them being the approximately $700,000 owed to the county by the city of Blytheville in delinquent jail fees.
"The bottom line is if we had collected what was owed us by the city, we'd be able to balance this budget," said Nelson. "Then they turn around and borrow money to buy fire trucks ... it's embarrassing."
The issue between the city and county is still under litigation, but County Judge Randy Carney said he expected the issue to be settled soon.
Also causing financial strain is the necessary construction of a new landfill cell, while the county is still paying on the loan it took out to construct the last new cell. In previous years, CDs would be cashed out to cover such unplanned expenses, but county general's last CDs were cashed out last year, in the amount of $440,000. According to county financial manager Brenda Burke, the county is also "loaned out," with no more collateral for financing.
A possibility of measures were discussed, ranging from reducing employee benefits or pay to combining the two county courthouses -- a long discussed option.
"The courthouse closing needs to be done," said Justice Barry Ball, "but it's going to cost a lot of money and take a lot of preparation. It's just not feasible now. But it should have happened in the past, and it didn't because of politics."
Carney added his thoughts that if the two courthouses were combined into a new location, the move would eventually pay for itself.
Another area of concern is the county senior citizens program, which is bleeding money from its budget on a monthly basis. As of Monday, the program was $9,000 in the red. Suzanne Southard, the program's director, told Carney that the rent on her facility was going to go up to $2,500 per month, which is not feasible in her budget or the county's.
"I told her we're not paying one month of that price," he said. "We'll find another option -- we're considering several other options right now."
Next Monday, the committee has plans to hear budget presentations from Southard for the senior center, and also from the county landfill. A precursory look will also be made at county general, which is going to require extended work. The finance committee will meet every Monday at the county judge's office until the budget for 2013 is completed.
sharris@blythevillecourier.com