COUNTY COMMISSION OKs 1995 BUDGET

JACKSON -- Retiring Cape Girardeau County Commissioner Gene Huckstep praised his colleagues, other county officials and employees for their dedication Tuesday as he delivered his final budget address.

Huckstep, the county's chief budget officer, read a three-page message at a public hearing on the budget before joining Associate Commissioners E.C. Younghouse and Larry Bock in giving unanimous approval to the document.

Although the commission will meet again Thursday, approval of the 1995 budget was the last major item that needed to be resolved before the end of the year, when Huckstep's 16-year career will come to an end.

Younghouse, who made the motion to approve the budget, will also be leaving at the end of the year after seven years of service.

The budget has three parts: general operations, road and bridge, and a capital trust account.

In concluding his remarks, Huckstep praised Auditor H. Weldon Macke and his staff for their effort over the years in preparing the annual budgets, and said a team effort was required to put the county in its current, sound financial condition.

"I wish to thank all officeholders, department heads, and employees of Cape Girardeau County for their cooperation, understanding, and dedication for 16 years," said Huckstep.

"I like what I see for Cape County's future, and believe that the county will continue to grow and prosper."

Macke said the revenue estimates in the budget are conservative, and the expenditure estimates "are very reasonable, but just because something is in the budget does not mean it will be spent."

Huckstep said the county was fortunate to have sales-tax growth of just over 10 percent in 1994, which will help it keep pace with an increased general revenue budget of 11 percent. The total general operations budget is $6.70 million.

The general operations budget that was passed has an unencumbered balance of nearly $621,000. Generally, between 75 and 82 percent of what is budgeted is actually spent.

"This healthy condition can only continue if those involved in Cape County government continue to be frugal in their spending," warned Huckstep. "Other problems such as solid waste and hosts of other state and federal mandates could become costly to the county, and they will be dealt with as they occur."

The road and bridge budget is for $1.82 million, which is up slightly from 1994.

Huckstep said that with costs continually increasing and no foreseeable increase in revenue, the county will be limited to providing maintenance on roads and bridges.

"There has been some attempt to come up with a long-range plan for the roads, but without proper funding, and about 600 miles of road, this is almost an impossible task," said Huckstep.

"There needs to be a new source of revenue if Cape County really wants our roads to continue to improve. A new commission will take over in 1995, and perhaps they can find the answer to the road situation."

With a balance of $4.535 million, the capital trust account provides money for capital improvements and emergencies. On Jan. 1, the account had a balance of $3.788 million.

In 1994, funds from the account were used to build four new bridges, and funds in 1995 are budgeted for other new bridges.

The fund also provided nearly $162,000 used this year to purchase some land adjacent to the Cape County South Park.

Except for two members of the news media, the budget hearing drew just three citizens, two of them incoming commissioners.

Bob Wilhite of Jackson, a member of the county park board, dropped by the hearing but seemed content with the document that was approved.

Incoming Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones and incoming 2nd District Associate Commissioner Joe Gambill, who sat through parts of the budget process, also attended the hearing.

Though required by law, budget hearings are routine and rarely are more than an opportunity for the auditor and commissioners to present the budget to news media.

The 1995 budget does not have any new personnel included. Some of the major new expenditures are earmarked for additional upgrading of the county's mainframe computer, maintenance on county buildings, and new equipment and vehicles.