Knox County Approves $2.6M Budget

 Knox County Approves $2.6M Budget

By Mike Scott

The Knox County Commissioners have approved spending $2,659,020.68 in their 2009 budget. And while that sounds like a lot, it is actually a reduction of $139,120.35 from 2008 actual expenses, a drop of nearly five percent.
On the revenue side, the county started 2009 with $550,018.01 cash available. They expect to receive $606,748 in property tax revenues, and $540,200 in sales tax. Intergovernmental revenues will total $746,974.10, and charges for service will account for $196,226 of the county’s income. The county should receive $34,010 in interest income, $111,534 in other income, an $91,304.93 in operating transfers. The total funds available for 2009 will be $2,877,015.04.
The county’s general revenue fund, which includes expenses and salaries for the Commissioners, Clerk’s office, Treasurer, Collector, Recorder, Public Administrator, Prosecuting Attorney, Coroner as well as expenses for elections, buildings and grounds, and employee benefits will spend $737848.50 in 2009.
The county’s largest fund, the Special Road and Bridge fund, will spend $1,560,246.08 this year. Those expenses include salary and benefits for employees, supplies such and fuel, tires, parts and chemicals. It also includes road and bridge construction materials such are rock, concrete and steel, equipment repairs and rental.
The Assessment fund will spend $114,608.70, which includes the Assessor’s office salaries and office expenses.
The county’s Law Enforcement fund is budgeted to spend $219,866.06 in 2009. Those expenses will include salaries in the Sheriff’s Department, including deputies, dispatch and secretary, office supplies, equipment, mileage and expenses to transport and board county prisoners.
The Local Emergency Planning Commission fund had $23.22 to start 2009, and had no appropriations for the year.
The Children’s Trust Fund, which comes from certain fees collected through the Circuit Clerk’s office, is not budgeted to spend any money in 2009.
The county expects the April elections to cost $15,000, the amount budgeted in the Election Fund.
The crime fund receives fees through the Prosecuting Attorney’s office, and they will spend $3575, mostly on training and supplies in 2009.
The Prosecuting Attorney Training Fund is not budgeted to spend any money this year, nor is the Help America Vote Act Fund.
Knox County takes care of the expenses to maintain Sever Lake, and is expected to spend $4000 in mowing and $9682 in supplies, chemicals and other items for the lake maintenance.
The Rock Creek Cemetery Fund will spend $300, and the Davis Cemetery Fund is budgeted to spend $500 in 2009.
The Sheriff’s Fees Fund, which gets income from charges for service, is budgeted to spend $16,100 in 2009. Of that, $8000 is for equipment, $3500 for MULES, $1500 for training and the balance on miscellaneous items.
The county’s Law Enforcement Training Fund will spend $1400 on training.
The Circuit Clerk Interest Fund has no budget appropriations for 2009.
The Technology Fund is for the Recorder’s Office, and has a 2009 budget of $4000, which is to be spent on Computer Index Book/Paper and other miscellaneous expenses.
The User’s Fees Fund through the Recorder’s Office has a $2100 budget for scanning deeds onto CD and for toner.
The Collector’s Maintenance Fund has a budget of $4000 for training, computer and office expense.
The Knox County Economic Development Fund can spend $10,000. The money originally was left to the county in a will to use for Economic Development. This year’s budget will be spent for of the Gym Demolition.
The Time Payment fund has no 2009 appropriations.
The county’s Interest and Fines fund has a 2009 budget of $29,500. $29,000 will be distributed to schools, and $500 for a bond.
The county’s Overplus Fund has no appropriations for 2009, nor does the Revolving Fund.
The Unclaimed Fund and the Restitution Fund have no expenses budgeted in 2009.
The Criminal Costs Fund will spend $3000 in 2009.
At the end of 2009, the county should have $217,994.36 cash on hand, according to the budget.