Lyon County’s financial numbers are looking good following the first month of the year, and Lyon County’s Friendship Meals cooking site could return to the county.
Lyon County commissioners received the January end-of-the month financial report from Bobbie Agler and Christie Miller of A&M Consultants during Thursday’s Lyon County Commission action session.
Agler told commissioners that the ending unencumbered cash for January was $16,220. The 2009 revenues are almost $60,000 higher than budgeted, Agler added. The key items that contributed to the excess revenue are delinquent tax collections and prisoner-care fees. Prisoner-care fees tend to fluctuate, Agler said, depending on when the bills are sent out and when the counties pay the bills.
Although the numbers are looking strong now, Agler advised caution.
“The first report of the year and probably the first couple of reports of the year are not necessarily totally representative of what is actually going on,” Agler told commissioners.
Agler added that the variations could be due to several factors, including commitments that were made in 2008 that may not actually be expended until the end of the first quarter of 2009 or later.
Overtime was just more than $40,000 for January, Agler said. This was over the pro-rated budget for the month and higher than January a year ago. Agler said the overtime is a sign that there potentially is a problem.
“If it’s Road and Bridge it could be tied into weather,” he said. “It could be due to staffing issues. I think it’s a signal to you right after the first of the month where there’s a potential issue.”
The 1 percent sales tax, which now won’t be collected until July 1, will affect the budget not only for 2009 but 2010 as well. Voters approved a 1 percent sales tax hike in August 2008 but it was negated by the state because the tax would exceed the 1 percent limit. Lyon County already has a 1/2 percent sales tax in effect to pay for the courthouse. Special legislation was passed, but it was too late for the deadline to have the tax collected by April 1. Now, the county may not see any sales tax revenue until October. The county had expected around $1.5 million but may only see about $400,000 this year, said Dan Slater, Lyon County controller. The county could tap into reserves to cover the shortfall but that also lowers the county’s cash, Slater added.
“We spent money we don’t have...” Slater said.
In other business, Lyon County could be cooking its food for Friendship Meals back in the county if a grant application that will be submitted by the North Central Area Agency on Aging to acquire a building in Lyon County is approved. The grant application is being sent through Jones Trust.
The meals are being cooked outside of Lyon County right now and have to be transported in.
“The local cooking site will not only improve economic efficiencies of administering this program but also improve the quality of food and nutrition because of reduced time from preparation to consumption, which now approaches three to four hours due to transportation from sites outside of the county,” a letter of support for the grant stated. “In addition, the building can provide office space for other area agency operations within the county.”
The location of the building is not being released at this time.
In other matters commissioners:
F Approved a proposal by Central Kansas Engineering Consultants for the 2009 Bridge Inspection plan for an estimated total of $14,238.
F Approved payment No. 3 for $1,892.70 to Markowitz Builders for the ADA remodel at the Lyon County Health Department/Flint Hills Community Health Center and another county building.
F Approved retention payment in the amount of $5,460.90 for the ADA remodel to Markowitz Builders.
F Approved OSE’s bid for en engineering quote for the Lyon County Courthouse for a maximum of $4,400 for an engineering study; and approved up to $2,600 for the Health Department for an engineering study.