Council to have public hearing regarding proposed budget

During this past week’s Marion County Council meeting, council members granted second reading approval of the proposed budget of $16,292,450 for the 2009-2010 fiscal year. The proposal is a 3.13 percent change in comparison to the current $16,801,906 budget, which is a reduction of over $509,456.

County Administrator Tim Harper said the proposed budget was very difficult to put together due to many uncertainties for the upcoming year. These include, on the expenditure side, the cost of fuel, utilities, insurance and food costs, he said. In regards to the revenue, a concern is a continued decline in taxes, he said.

“Our reduction by the state in the local government fund is $368,132, he said. By making cuts and an increase of four mils, the county is balancing its budget.

While discussing the proposed lease agreement with the City of Marion regarding a new fire substation during this past week’s meeting, Council member Eloise Rogers asked Harper how much would it take to remodel the facility used by the County. Harper replied such a move would require additional remodeling inside and outside.

The new agreement is a 99-year lease to allow the county to house one ambulance and its crew in sleeping quarters, Marion County Attorney Chuck McLain said during a council meeting on May 12. In the agreement, the county is agreeing to pay the city $36,000 over four years and agreeing to picking up a part of the building’s utility bills, he said.

“This is nothing more than a lease … they’ll have to adopt an ordinance to lease this space to the county,” McLain said, adding that he would submit the agreement to city officials so their council can agree and move forward.

At that time Council postponed signing off on the lease until it met to discuss the budget. Council member Elista Smith asked council to add those payments into the county’s budget.

Council agreed to the request from Council member Milton Troy II to hold another budget workshop. However, the provision for the initial $9,000 installment is included in the budget proposal. Harper said before third reading of the budget proposal a public hearing will be on July 23.

During a legal update to Council, McLain reported that upon further review of the fee agreement with Datwyler Inc., a provision requiring maintenance and the company maintaining a level of investment for all years during the agreement.

McLain said he is asking for proof, adding that taxes would be due on the site and the agreement would be canceled after the first year if the company didn’t maintain the investment level. Council approved McLain’s request to authorize Harper to execute the agreement on behalf of the County once City of Marion officials approved the proposed agreement and budget ordinance.

Senior Planner with the Marion County Planning Commission, Levonne Powell, spoke to council regarding the county’s comprehensive plan, being produced by the Commission. “They’ve gone over five elements and four more are to be completed,” she said, adding the plan is the basis for anything that might be done in the zoning ordinance.

“We have to do this process first before we make wholesale changes to zoning if it were the council’s pleasure,” she said.