Members of the Texas County Commission approved a 2015 budget last week that will guide spending after several weeks of deliberations.
The document reflects little change from the previous year. The bulk of the revenues generated comes from three half-cent sales tax approved earlier by voters. Those funds — along with fees generated by officeholders — are included in the document that contains dozen of accounts.
Last year, revenue from a 1981 sales tax failed to generate sufficient revenue for a full rollback of taxes and a small tax was levied, the county said. A .0225 property tax per each $100 of assessed valuation appeared. The budget factors in another small levy that is estimated to generate about $70,000. Each of the county’s 17 townships set their own levy for administration and road and bridge purposes.
As in past years, administration of the criminal justice system takes the lion’s share of revenue: Operation of the county jail, sheriff’s department and prosecutor’s office. For example, the general revenue fund calls for spending nearly $732,000 to administer the 72-bed facility at the Texas County Justice Center.
Employee benefits and taxes are estimated at about $683,000.
One half-cent sales tax is used for debt retirement associated with the construction of the building. Approved by voters in 2006, the project has outstanding debt of about $11 million. Another half-cent sales tax pays for operation of the center and other expenditures for its upkeep.
As in past years, the county commission will distribute fuel and vehicle tax monies to the county’s 17 townships based on their road mileage for upkeep of roads and bridges. About $850,000 is earmarked.