Commissioners adopt Greene County budget
WAYNESBURG — Greene County commissioners voted Thursday to adopt the county’s $25 million budget for 2012, a spending plan that will be smaller than this year’s budget but would hold the line on taxes.
The total operating budget includes the general fund and state and federal funding for county programs.
The budget includes $14.75 million for the general fund, $2.88 million for core human services and transportation programs, $2.48 million for the mental health and retardation services, $2.08 million for children and youth services, a $1.12 million state liquid fuels fund, $632,636 for domestic relations, $530,282 for drug and alcohol services, $320,000 for the 911 fund, $191,608 in Community Development Block Grants and $180,000 for the tourism fund.
The 2012 overall budget has decreased by roughly $1.2 million from 2011. Officials said the decrease can be mostly attributed to decreases in state grants, which will impact many of the county departments.
County Chief Clerk Jeff Marshall said at the commissioners’ meeting in November — when the 2012 budget was initially proposed — that because revenue is decreasing the county tried to make sure that expenditures also decreased. However, in some departments, such as the 911 center, it was impossible to keep expenses down because services still need to be provided and union contracts must be honored, officials said.
The county will take $96,000 from the fund balance to balance the budget. There is currently more than $2.5 million in that funding stream, officials said.
Commissioners also approved the millage rate for 2012, which is the same as the current rate.
The 2012 millage rate of 7.535 mills represents a rate of 6.77 mills for the general fund, or 67.7 cents for each $100 of assessed valuation; 0.695 mills for county debt; and 0.07 mills for the Greene County Library System.
The budget was tentatively approved in November and was available for public inspection before being adopted at the commissioners’ regular meeting Thursday.
Marshall said there were no changes or amendments made from the proposed budget.