Lyon County commissioners were told Wednesday morning that they can expect a tighter budget in 2008 than they have had in previous years.
Bob Agler, of A&M Consultants, told commissioners during their study session that after the first five months of the year, it appears that 2007 will end with less carry-over funds than in previous years.
“I don’t know if we can anticipate as positive an ending balance as we’ve enjoyed in the past few years,” Agler said. “I’m anticipating a pretty tight budget process.”
Agler presented commissioners with a handout containing things to consider during the 2008 budget planning process, which is set to start soon. He said factors to consider include expenditures; non-property tax revenues; unfunded expenditures; and the mill levy.
Agler said the county is going to take a hit when it comes to personal property tax.
“We know we’re going to take some kind of hit in personal property,” he said. “It’s basically business and we don’t have any new coming in because of the state exemption.”
Agler suggested approaching the 2008 budget process with an outcome based approach.
“We know the financial results for 2006 for each department,” he said. “Consider requiring each department manager to provide a clear picture of what outcomes they realized in 2006, why they were important and how they compared to expectations.”
Then the idea of consolidation was tossed out during the budget discussion. Agler questioned whether manpower could be consolidated within the county.
“We’re really talking about people costs,” he said. “Can come of these be combined or cross-staffed?”
Agler said one of the biggest problems during the budgeting process is telling the difference between wants and needs.
“At what level does it become wants?” Agler asked.
Another important factor during the budget process is helping the public understand the process and where their tax money is going, Agler added.
“I think something we really need to emphasize is say ‘OK, ‘X’ amount of your taxes go to this,’” he said.
Also during Wednesday’s commission meeting, Agler went over the end of the month figures for May.
“I think the report is still very positive,” Agler said.
Some of the negatives that were pointed out included overtime figures. Agler said overtime is up to $119,000 through May — nearly $16,000 higher than a year ago.
“If all this is timing and the weather is more cooperative for you, it’s not an issue,” he said. “If it becomes a standard, then it will become an issue.”
The motor vehicle taxes budget is about 72 percent above the pro-rated budget.
“You don’t have enough people apparently with last names in the first part of the alphabet,” Agler said. “There shouldn’t be any issues. It will catch up at the end of the year.”
The jail income is about 22 percent below the year to date budget.
“The concern there is if there ends up being a 22 percent blow, you’re talking about revenues being about $140,000 or $150,000 short,” Alger said. “That could be a real impact.”
County Controller Dan Slater agreed.
“We had good months and bad months last year,” Slater said. “This year we are just having bad months.”