By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
CASSOPOLIS – A $13,055,691 general fund budget for Oct. 1, 2006-Sept. 30, 2007 the Cass County Board of Commissioners adopted Thursday is for less than the $13,11,936 spending plan County Administrator Terry Proctor originally presented July 6.
Proctor proposed using $211,181 from the delinquent tax fund, $142,292 from the budget stabilization fund and $453,410 from the general fund surplus to balance the county's books.
As of Sept. 21, those figures have been revised to $393,000 from the estimated $2.603 million general fund balance, and $4,790 from the delinquent tax fund, projected to be $6,625,133 next Sept. 30.
While the general fund attracts the most attention, Proctor pointed out to commissioners that the new budget also encompasses 37 special revenue funds, 11 debt service funds, four special project funds and 13 other funds.
"This is a very active county," Proctor said. "There's a lot going on, whether it's in building sewer systems or in ongoing county operations. We have courts and agencies that have been very active in acquiring grants which we have to account for separately. Keeping track of all of these funds is a big job."
He publicly recognized certified public accountant Becky Moore. She set up an accounting system to keep track of federal and state grants that Proctor noted "are an increasing part of our operation. They're the ones with all the strings attached. Whether we like it or not, the strings are attached, so we have to meet the requirements of those funding sources."
Proctor also praised Deputy Treasurer Diane Klapchuk of Dowagiac for what she does every day to assist Moore "to keep these funds in balance throughout the year. They work very hard from now getting ready for auditors to come in December. The audit can be accomplished much more quickly because of the work they do."
Proctor noted there are 11 pages of general fund supporting documentation and 98 pages for the other funds.
After a public hearing on the budget Aug. 3, the board established the 2006 millage rate of 4.7524 mills for general operations, .9178 mill for the Council on Aging and .4851 mill for drug enforcement.
The number of employees is set at the fulltime equivalent of 172.53, including 34.73 in the Sheriff's Office, 27.26 in the jail, 13 in Friend of the Court, 12 in District Court, 11.6 in central dispatch, 11.5 in the Prosecutor's Office, nine in Family Court, 6.4 in the Clerk/Register's Office, six in Information Systems, 4 1/2 in Circuit Court, four each in the Treasurer's Office and maintenance, 3.6 in Probate Court, 5.33 in Animal Control,
The general fund balance in 2005 was $3,482,601. It's projected to finish the new fiscal year at $2,603,000.
County Treasurer Linda Irwin reminded that Friday, Sept. 29, at 10 a.m. in Van Buren County will be the no-minimum-bid sale on 18 parcels. Registration begins at 9 a.m.