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Thursday, December 3, 2020

Report on County Budget Hearing

By Jonathan Lee - Rich County Commissioner


Attached is the annual revenue/expenditure budget for Rich County 2021. The budget is $6,912,409.  The sanitation budget is increased from $600,000 and $100,000 reserve to $750,000 and $150,000 reserve. 


EXPENSE

The biggest expenditure budget items in the county are Sheriff's Department ($1,084,036), roads ($1,035,000),  and sanitation ($742,150)

Some other items I have been asked about. Tourism has a combined budget of ($408,480) and the weeds/mosquito have a budget of ($335,000).

INCOME

The biggest income budget items are property taxes $1,100,000, sales/transient room/restaurant $869,872 with 73% of that coming from transient room tax which primarily consists of second home rentals. And PILT $470,000. PILT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) is essentially property taxes the federal government pays for federal land in the county.   PILT is an area that all of us have already been petitioning our Senators and Congressman for more of.


Transient room income is budgeted to rise from 2020 $400,940 to 2021 $634,872

A few things to note:  

- There has been a 4% increase in pay budgeted for all county employees part-time and full. 

- Health insurance premiums for the county did not increase but deductibles went up.

- The sanitation department is an enterprise fund and is meant to be self-sustaining. It is not included in the $6,912,409

- There is CARES act money is budgeted for 2021 but it is not guaranteed. The line item was created so that if it is available is has already been put on the budget.

- Compensation for EMT and emergency volunteers was brought up by Garden City Mayor Mike Leonhardt and will continue to be looked at.

I have been encouraged by the current Commissioners and their willingness to help me learn.

I am open to any questions and will do my best to answer or find someone who knows the answer.

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