Brown County Commissioners adopted Fiscal Year 2014-2015 budget during Monday’s meeting of the court after a public hearing on the matter was held with no public comment. This year’s budget is $18,146,221, which is $1,036,427 more than last year’s, or an increase of 7.34%.
County Auditor Nina Cox explained that the new budget includes a 5% salary increase for all county employees. The base pay for jailers was also raised to $25,500 from the previous $24,000/year. Jailers also for the first time will receive certification pay, which was always paid to other Brown County Sheriff’s deputies and Court House Security officers. If a jailer’s certification pay exceeds $1500 base pay raise, they will receive whichever is greater, according to Cox. She explained that the certification pay is based on years worked and certification of each jailer, which can range from $1200-$7200 per person depending on law enforcement certification level. It is hoped with the additional salary, employee turnover will decrease at the Brown County Jail.
“There will be 5% raises across the board for county employees. This is the first time in 10 years that there has been a 5% raise,” said Cox. “There was a 3% raise in 2013, 3% in 2012 for all employees except elected officials, and in 2011 there was none.”
Also included in the budget is funding for the purchase of one additional Chevrolet Tahoe patrol unit for the Brown County Sheriff’s Office.
According to officials, the budget estimated the $18,146,221 in expenditures. 70% of these will be realized through a proposed ad valorem tax of 0.5744 cents per $100 evaluation, which is yet to be adopted and expected to be adopted at a 4:00 p.m. meeting of the court on Tuesday, September 30th, after another public hearing on the matter.According to officials, the property tax revenue to be raised from new property added to the tax roll this year will be $139,910.77. It is expected that the proposed tax rate considering additional properties added to the tax rolls will effectively raise more taxes for maintenance and operations than last year’s rate by 7.34%, according to the budget information released at Monday’s meeting.
Budget information also showed the county to have $6,837,576.40 cash on hand, which should remain steady as estimated through the FY 2014/2015 budget.
In other matters on Monday’s agenda:
*Commissioners took no action on consideration of a burn ban. There is no burn ban in effect for Brown County.
*Commissioners approved a new member of the Brown County Child Welfare Board. Cristy Herrada will fill a vacancy on the board previously held by Debbie Krischke, according to board member Sherry Clark. Clark stated that Herrada has a love for children, especially foster children, and that she has adopted four children into her family.
*Commissioners approved Cheryl Jones’ District Clerk Records Archival Plan.
*Commissioners approved rolling over unused portions of Flex Med reserves, up to $500 each per year, for county employees. According to County Treasurer Ann Krpoun, this has not been available in the past for county employees. Krpoun also received approval of an agreement to Section 125 Cafeteria Plan.
*Developer and Real Estate Broker Tootie Kelly received the court’s approval of the Sunshine Acres Subdivision. This subdivision is located on County Road 135, approximately 4.5 miles from Hwy 279.
*Commissioners approved a resolution authorizing County Grant for “Texans Feeding Texans: Home-Delivered Meal Grant Program.
Commissioners recessed the meeting to be continued at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday for a public hearing and possible adoption of proposed tax rates for 2015.
