BOLLINGER COUNTY SEES BETTER FINANCES AHEAD

MARBLE HILL -- Bollinger County government used to find it hard to make ends meet. Bit these days the county government is on solid financial ground.

The Bollinger County Commission has approved a budget of more than $2 million for this calendar year. The general-revenue budget alone totals more than $1 million for the first time, commissioners said Monday.

It includes about $40,000 to provide health insurance for the county's 42 employees and officeholders. Commissioners said until this year the county couldn't afford to provide health insurance.

The general-revenue budget pays for the bulk of county operations. County road and bridge operations are funded out of a separate fund. In 2000, the county has budgeted $938,440 for road and bridge operations.

Bollinger County's budget also includes $118,140 for the operation of the assessor's office. That office is budgeted separately from other county offices.

Commissioner Rod Jetton credits a growing economy and a sales tax for the improved financial state. Jetton said several new stores that have opened in the Marble Hill area added to the tax base. The total assessed valuation is projected to climb from $78.7 million to $80.8 million.

"The sales-tax dollar is where you really get an increase in revenue," said Jetton.

Bollinger County voters approved a half-cent sales tax in 1989. The sales tax is expected to generate $525,600 this year, up from a budgeted $470,.000 in 1999. That makes up over half of the county's general-revenue budget.

Most of the property tax revenue goes to schools, Jetton said. Property tax revenue is expected to generate $365,300 for the county, with more than half of that earmarked for road and bridge operations. Licenses, fees and government reimbursements are expected to generate more than $870,000 for county operations, with much of that going to roads and bridges.

Jetton said the county's road and bridge operations are in the black. "We are paying cash for all our equipment," he said. "Ten years ago it was $150,000 in debt, and all the equipment was worn out."

The county steadily has replaced its aging road graders and trucks, which has helped reduce maintenance costs. "We're happy with it," Presiding Commissioner Ken Trentham said of the 2000 budget.

County Clerk Diane Holzum said the county budget years ago routinely was in the hole. "We would budget to be in the hole," she said. "We cut until we couldn't cut any more."

Many businesses wouldn't let the county charge expenses. "It was tough," Holzum said.

While it isn't in the budget, the commission hopes to secure a police dog to assist the sheriff's department in drug searches. Methamphetamine has become a serious problem in the county, commissioners said. A deputy in the sheriff's department has experience working with a drug dog in the Jackson Police Department, Trentham said.

Buying, training and insuring a police dog is expected to cost about $15,000. The sheriff's department is seeking contributions, and the county is exploring grant funding.