Officials OK $34.7 million budget

Madison County officials were in and out of the county’s public hearing in mere minutes Tuesday.

Less than 10 local residents showed up for the evening meeting during which the Madison County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved its proposed $34.7 million 2009-2010 fiscal year budget and corresponding tax rates. (Supervisor James Arrington was absent from Tuesday’s meeting.)

“I think we pared down the budget about as far as we could pare it down without taking extremely drastic measures,” County Administrator Lisa Robertson said of the approved budget, which didn’t include any additional revisions from the version advertised in The Eagle in March. The budget includes about four percent less local funds than the amount included in the current year’s budget.

Robertson said that some areas of the coming fiscal year’s budget are “very tight” and that it’s likely some county departments will have to approach the board throughout the year requesting additional funds, which could be transferred from other areas of the budget, such as the county’s contingency, or “rainy day,” fund – which totals $1.16 million.

During the meeting – which only spanned a total of 15 minutes – the supervisors voted to keep most local tax rates constant for the coming fiscal year. The board did approve a five percent increase of its personal property tax rate for personal use motor vehicles (including automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, trailers or semi-trailers, campers and other recreational vehicles), bringing it to $2.95 per $100 assessed value.

Supervisors Chairman Eddie Dean said the board’s decision to increase this tax rate was to offset a 20 percent overall average decrease in the assessed values of county residents’ motor vehicles. Dean had also said at previous meetings, and told The Eagle following Tuesday’s meeting, that the tax rate increase was also proposed to make up for some of the income lost from the county’s move to do away with its motor vehicle decal fees.

Tuesday’s meeting also included a public hearing regarding the elimination of these fees, a move two local residents – Bill Campbell and Pete Elliott – voiced concerns about, one suggesting the county was setting itself up to lose too much money. 

Later, Dean said that it was the “feeling of the board” that the county could handle losing the funds as a result of getting rid of the fee – his previous estimates put the anticipated loss at $350,000 or less.

Supervisor Bob Miller also pointed out that the county’s finance committee had previously recommended that the board eliminate its motor vehicle fee due to the expense related to its collection.

“It’s odd that we have to defend a net decrease in these taxes,” Miller said in response to the remarks noted during public comment.

At the earlier portion of Tuesday’s meeting, Dean said that overall, most county residents, who have not acquired any new items considered taxable personal property, would see a decrease in the amount of personal property taxes they will be paying in the coming year due to the lower assessments.

Previously, the supervisors chairman had said personal property tax bills may go up or down for certain individuals. Residents who may see an increase include those who own vehicles that are not subject to the motor vehicle fee but are included in their personal property taxes, such as some farm vehicles and antique cars.

A copy of the county’s approved 2009-2010 fiscal year budget and corresponding tax rates may be viewed at the Madison County Board of Supervisors office at 302 Thrift Road (the old school board headquarters) during normal hours, Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For information, call (540) 948-6700.