Budget referred to commission

In keeping with the action taken by the finance committee earlier in the day, the Obion County Budget Committee approved a budget Monday for the 2009-10 fiscal year and a property tax rate.
The proposed legislation was then referred to the Obion County Commission for an up or down vote. The commission is scheduled to meet at 9 a.m. Aug. 17 in the Circuit Court courtroom at the local courthouse.
A finalized budget and the property tax rates were among several items of public business transacted by the budget committee in the meeting room in the basement of the courthouse. Six of the seven members of the committee were present. Commissioner Danny Jowers presided over the two-hour gathering.
Earlier that morning, under the guidance of commissioner and chairman Tim Doyle, the finance committee passed a resolution setting the tax levy — $1.95 per $100 valuation for property located outside the city limits of Union City and $1.51 for property located inside the city limits of Union City. These are known as the “outside rate” and the “inside rate.” It also passed proposed budgets for FY 2009-10, which began July 1. County government has been operating on a continuing resolution, enacted by the county commission, to fund county government until a new budget was crafted and enacted into law.
When the county commission meets on Aug. 17, its top item of business will be to do just that.
A summary statement of “proposed plans” — meaning the proposed budget — for the year ending June 30, 2010, shows a total appropriation of $55,289,765 to fund county government operation.
Simply stated, the proposed budget endorsed by the finance committee and the budget committee provides:
• General Fund — $9,383,192. The fund supports 53 line items such as Board of Equalization, Preservation of Records, General Sessions Court, Circuit Court and many others.
• Public Library Fund — $601,513. Supports Obion County Public Library.
• Solid Waste/Sanitation Fund. None.
• Drug Control Fund — $58,000.
• Highway/Public Works Fund — $7,018,055. Highway and bridge maintenance ($2,861,837) accounts for the majority of the funding.
• General Purpose School Fund — $31,071,186.
• Central Cafeteria Fund — $2,109,145.
• General Debt Service Fund — $2,186,258.
• Nursing Home Fund — $2,862,416. “It’s Medicare money and private pay money. At this point in time, the county does not fund anything at the nursing home,” said Obion County Mayor Benny McGuire said.
Published in The Messenger 8.5.09

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