CASSOPOLIS — That audible thud is Cass County’s fiscal year 2012 budget hitting commissioners’ desks Thursday night from County Administrator Charles Cleaver, although it could have been noisier had he not pared a “huge” initial $989,000 deficit from requests down to $150,311 in the $14.1 million document.
“I have used that amount of funds from the budget stabilization fund to balance this FY 2012 proposed budget,” Cleaver reported. “I’m still working toward a goal of getting the budget in a balanced state.”
“We took quite a dent out of a huge gap,” Cleaver commented.
Cleaver said projected revenues are down $279,264 from FY 2011 amended budgets and $500,585 from FY 2009 amended budgets.
“As you know,” he advised the 15 commissioners, “the bulk of the reduction in the FY 2012 projected revenue comes from the expected reduction in state revenue sharing as reported to us recently.
“Though the recommended expenses for the general fund are down $309,568 from the amended 2011 budget, there are scheduled compensation increases as well as increases in benefit costs that are to be expected and being included in this proposed budget. Over the past few years, the county has taken some proactive cost-cutting initiatives in conjunction with other governmental entities in our self-insured health insurance plan, including using some of the excess in the plan’s reserve fund. This has lessened the rate of increases in the existing plans.”
Cleaver continued, “The budget does not include any additional employees or capital improvement purchases other than the normal rotation of cars, a replacement lawn mower, a replacement freezer for animal control and some replacement of computers. There are other reductions, of which many were coordinated with the department heads.
“Three factors are key to understanding our current and upcoming financial challenges,” the administrator said, ticking off falling revenues, stagnant revenues and increasing costs.
“While less affected than the rest of the state,” he said, Cass County “is feeling the  effects of the national economic challenges. As challenging as this FY 2012 budget was to balance, the FY 2013 will prove to be the most challenging budget to balance that Cass County has faced in many years.”
The coming year’s spending plan will be finalized and approved by the board of commissioners Sept. 1
Cleaver requested a budget work session to address issues and concerns commissioners expressed. Possible dates he suggested are an evening meeting the week of July 25 or Aug. 13, which would require amending the budget calendar. There was a consensus for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 27.