Law enforcement sales tax opens funds for new jail, health department

By Kyle Troutman

ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com

Barry County has adopted its 2023 budget, approving $5.6 million in expenditures with revenue of $5.7 million and nearly $3 million in carryover.

Presiding Commissioner Steve Blankenship, Northern Commissioner Gary Schad and Southern Commissioner Gene Robbins adopted the plan on Thursday, noting the county is in a comfortable position after higher sales tax revenue in the last few years, as well as consistent savings by previous administrations.

“The finances look very good, really positive,” Schad said. “Because of what we brought in last year with the economy the way it was with $4 gas and everything going up, we are confident because we saw an increase in sales tax, and if we stay on track, it should continue going up.”

“It also cannot be understated that the previous offices have been good stewards of taxpayer dollars,” Robbins said. 

This year’s budget looks different than recent years, as a 1/2-cent law enforcement tax freed up more than $1.7 million in general fund money previously funding the sheriff’s office and jail.

“We kept some things from the current budget the sheriff’s office will eventually take over,” Schad said. “It’s the first full year of collection, so we are being cautious. Once we establish a year of revenue and expenses, it will be a snap.”

One of the most significant budget changes came in the employee benefits line, cut by more than half from $631,000 to $280,000, with the law enforcement sales tax now picking up deputy and jailer benefits.

The Barry County prosecutor’s office received a boost of nearly 15 percent, which will be used for staffing.

“The prosecutor and judges are both overwhelmed with cases,” Schad said. “Prosecutor Amy Boxx asked for another assistant and another clerical staff, giving her two assistants and seven clerical total. She said most surrounding counties have three assistants, and she has been operating with just one.”

Another change came to employee salaries, with an 8 percent cost of living raise going to all county employees. Officeholders received a 2 percent hike.

“We are changing or pay from once a month to bi-monthly, and with that, employees would lose a 2-week pay period for a while if they retire or leave, so this 8 percent should help cushion that,” Schad said. “That barely gets most of them above minimum wage, but we are also still paying 100 percent of their benefits, and insurance is up $600 per employee this year. If you factor the benefits in, it’s a 12 percent raise.”

Officeholders vote on their salaries every two years and have traditionally done 2 percent cost of living raises at those times.

This year’s largest line in the budget by far is capital projects, at $2 million to prepare to build the new jail. Schad said groundbreaking on the facility is likely coming within the next few weeks.

Other projects the county plans to complete include light renovations of the Extension and recorder offices in the courthouse, and the judicial center roof is nearly completed.

Robbins said if any residents have questions or concerns about the budget or county expenditures, they should contact the commission.

“Our door is open, and if someone has a question, we are totally transparent,” he said. 

The commission meets on Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon.

The following are the approved budget amounts for 2023 and the approved amount in 2022 in parenthesis:

County Departments

Commission: $245,507.66 ($466,517.44)

Clerk: $81,832 ($78,949.10)

Elections: $55,486.38 ($88,627.19)

Building and Grounds: $227,873 ($246,658)

Employee Benefits: $280,766 ($631,617)

Treasurer: $53,142 ($57,158.90)

Collector: $128,899.99 ($123,659.08)

Recorder: $81,582 ($75,158.90)

Circuit Clerk: $39,125 ($24,500)

Circuit Court Administration: $8,255 ($8,255)

Capital Projects: $2,010,000 (465,000)

Total: $3,212,469.03 ($2,940,514.65)

Other General County Government

Insurance: $190,000 ($215,000)

Publications: $10,000 ($10,000)

Rents and Leases: $42,000 ($41,000)

Monett TIF: $87,000 ($87,000)

Miscellaneous: $110,000 ($110,000)

University Extension: $36,401 (35,200)

Public Administrator: $101,163.26 ($91,116.90)

Office Supplies: $78,220 ($122,020)

Total: $654,784.26

Public Safety

Sheriff’s Office: $0 ($1,048,597)

Jail: $0 ($698,980.88)

Prosecuting Attorney: $494,735.67 ($431,510.98)

Juvenile Office: $165,589.48 ($157,669.48)

Coroner: $51,529 ($40,878.72)

Emergency Management: $28,230 ($25,330)

Total: $740,354.15

Total All Departments: $4,607,607.44

Emergency Fund: $1,000,000

Total Budget: $5,607,607.44

The sheriff’s office and jail, funded by the new 1/2-cent sales tax, is budgeted for $2,739.170 this year.