COUNTY ADOPTS $8.13 MILLION BUDGET

JACKSON -- Cape Girardeau County government's budget for general operations in 1997 will grow 4.25 percent to nearly $8.13 million.

The County Commission unanimously approved next year's budget following a public hearing Thursday. Only county officials and members of the media attended.

"The County Commission appreciates the sound financial status that Cape Girardeau County enjoys with no property tax since 1982," said Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones. "Even with first-class status coming in 1997, we will keep the tax rate at zero."

The county's revenue comes a variety of sources, primarily a county sales tax, which is expected to bring in $4.2 million, and fees paid to county offices, estimated at $1.42 million.

The commission had budgeted $7.8 million for general operations in 1996. The final figures for actual expenditures won't be available until the end of the month, but County Auditor Weldon Macke expects expenditures to be well below the budgeted amount. Through Nov. 27 the county had spent $5.52 million for 1996.

For 1997, the county anticipates $8.4 million in appropriations, leaving an unbudgeted balance of more than $278,000.

Of the $8.1 million in the county budget, Macke said the county hopes to spend only 80 percent, providing a financial cushion in case of emergency.

The second portion of the budget, the road and bridge fund, will grow by a mere $8,000, less than one-half a percent, to $1.91 million for 1997. Projected income for the road and bridge budget is $1.93 million, leaving a balance of more than $26,000.

"Unfortunately, there is not enough revenue available in the road and bridge (budget) to fund several projects which the commission believes would be very beneficial to the county," Jones said. "However, the commission does have a long-range plan we developed over the past year, and we are looking into ways to fund special projects with revenue generated from other sources."

Commissioner Larry Bock said a priority list of road projects for 1997 will be completed in January.

Funds for the county's capital trust and emergency account, which will contain just over $1 million in 1997, will go to purchase needed equipment and fund special projects not covered in the road and bridge budget.

Macke said interest payments from county accounts should yield $500,000 in 1997. "Not many counties can say that," Macke said.

Of that amount, about $350,000 will go to the capital trust funds with the remaining $150,000 going to the road and bridge fund.

"We keep everything invested," Macke said. "We'd be penniless if we had to keep everything in cold, hard cash."

Although no major capital building projects are budgeted for 1997, some projects could be on the horizon.

Jones said the commission is considering a major expansion at the county jail in Jackson, potentially adding space for 96 more prisoners.