Judge gives fiscal court its first look at county’s new $20.4 million budget

Magistrates Sam Hutchins, left, and Keith Metcalfe look over documents during Tuesday’s meeting of Nelson Fiscal Court.

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

Tuesday, April 21, 2015, 11 a.m. — Nelson County Judge Executive Dean Watts presented Nelson Fiscal Court this morning with its first look at his $20.4 million budget for 2015-16.

The budget includes approximately $89,000 in new tax revenues generated by $62 million in growth in the county, Watts told the court. Due to drops in revenue, the budgeting process required creativity to end with a balanced budget as required by law.

Watts told the court two negative impacts on the budget were the drop in anticipated gas tax revenue of $270,00, as well as the loss of usage tax due to changes in how the tax is now calculated by the Nelson County Clerk .

A change in state law allows the trade-in value of a vehicle to offset the taxes on a new vehicle, which means the county will receive about $170,000 less in revenue.

The budget includes 0.8 percent salary increases for county employees, two new police vehicles, and a 10 percent increase in the county’s financial contribution to the E-911 Dispatch Board.

In the county road fund, the budget also includes funds to purchase a new backhoe and construction of a new salt barn that will more than double the amount of road salt the county can store.

The budget also includes the purchase of a new garbage truck and a new four-wheel-drive ambulance for Nelson County EMS.

Watts said his budget also includes a $100 monthly increase in the coroner and deputy coroner’s salary. Watts said in a comparison of coroner pay in similar-size counties, the Nelson County coroner’s pay is one of the lowest. “If you want the professionalism you expect from deputy coroners, you need to improve the pay,” he said.

The budget includes an anticipated 15 percent increase in county employee health insurance costs.

Watts concluded his budget presentation by warning the court that the continued cost increases in the budget will eventually mean consideration of ways to produce additional tax revenue or a reduction in costs by cutting services.

The 2015-16 budget is based the county taking the compensating rate on property taxes, rather than the 4 percent revenue increase allowed by law. Nelson Fiscal Court hasn’t taken the 4 percent revenue increase since 2007, Watts noted.

In other business, Nelson Fiscal Court:

— approved second reading of zoning changes and an update to the county building codes.

— awarded McMichael Construction the contract for the concrete work necessary for the foundation and concrete walls for the county’s new salt barn. McMichael was the low bidder at $95,838. Bulk Storage Inc. will be paid $83,750 to build a roof for the salt barn.

— accepted a financial report from the county’s soil conversation board.

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