Paving Plans, Equipment Purchases Discussed As Part Of 2019 Budget Process For Special Road District A
After finishing $13,440 under budget in 2018, the Special Road District A board hammered out a budget for 2019 at its January 8 meeting.
Most items remained the same as the 2018 budgeted figures. For 2018, income was $21,808 less than budgeted, but expenses were $35,248 below budget.
On the income side, the biggest change for 2019 was increasing the projected tax income from $350,000 to $475,000. In 2018 the actual figure taken in was $478,434.79.
Another significant increase anticipated was in County Aid Road Trust (CART) funding. It was increased from $50,000 to $55,000, after the district received $55,340 in 2018.
On the expense side, payroll was increased from $125,000 to $130,000, after the 2018 figure went over budget at $127,660.
Under supplies, uniforms were raised from $3,000 to $5,000 after last year’s actual cost was $4,507. Office supplies were kept at $500, even though this was an over-budget item last year, at $1,273. Board chairman Paul Arnold explained that the purchase of a laptop computer was what caused it to go over in 2018.
Last year, $7,000 was budgeted for tools, but only $3,751 was spent. The 2019 figure was adjusted down to $5,000.
Equipment purchase was increased from $34,000 to $50,000 since road foreman Paul Bauman would like a new boom mower. The current one, he said, is a 2003 model and needs to be replaced. It was agreed that the board will look into also leasing a newer tractor to pull the boom mower. The tractor currently used with the boom mower also is a 2003 model.
Workers’ compensation insurance was increased from $7,500 to $8,200, after the 2018 figure came in at $8,192.
Legal fees were raised from $1,000 to $2,000 and sub-contract labor from $500 to $1,000, since the board agreed to pay $500 to help the Ste. Genevieve Golf Club pay for fencing replacement earlier in the meeting.
Taxes and penalties had a $5,000 budgeted figure last year, but came in at only $248. It was dropped to $500 in the 2019 budget.
The board will vote on the budget, with these adjustments, at its February meeting.
See complete story in the January 23 edition of the Herald.