Carroll County taxpayers will not see a tax millage increase this year if the proposed budget for fiscal year 2019 is approved next month by the Carroll County Board of Supervisors.
According to Tony Green, budget specialist with North Central Planning and Development District, a millage increase is not necessary to fund proposed increases in the various county departments as well as Carroll County School District’s funding request.
“Requests were a little bit less than last year,” Green said. “The schools request was just under last year’s request.”
The value of the county also increased this year, making the value of one mill more than it was last year. So the county will see more revenue in ad valorem taxes this year, even without a millage rate increase.
According to Green, the total value of the county increased this year from $84,271,482 last year to $86,820,298 this year, an increase of $2,548,816. One mill now equals $76,444, up $2,310 from last year.
Funding increases in personal services were required in nearly every department this year due to a new state mandate increasing the employer match for state retirement from 15.75 percent to 17.4 percent. This requirement will go into effect on July 1, 2019, so this year’s budget will only fund the increase for the last quarter of the fiscal year.
Green said a there is not a proposed pay increases for all county employees, but there are some salary increases in various departments to accommodate merit increases and proposed new hires.
“The majority of the county’s departments show no increases [in the proposed budget],” Green said.
Other funding increases proposed in the FY 2019 budget are:
• Engineering fees as well as workman’s compensation insurance increases in the amount of $36,258, both contractual obligations, make up the most of the increase to the budget of the board of supervisors. However, decreases in personal services for $5,070 and capital outlay for $1,000 alleviated some of the new expense – bringing the total funding increase to $30,188.
• Merit pay increases and mandatory state retirement increase in Maintenance of Buildings and Grounds make up most of the department’s $8,228 funding increase this year. Contractual items increased $2,299, and supplies also increased $1,112.
• A $2,276 increase in Veterans Services is for state retirement for the Veterans Service Officer.
• Justice Court – First District will see an increase of $10,515, with $8,544 going to fund state retirement mandates and salary increases. Contractual obligations also increased $2,571, but a $600 drop in capital outlay helped offset some of the increase.
• Justice Court – Second District is requesting an increase of $1,419 for state retirement and salary increases.
• With 2019 being an election year for state and county elected officials, a significant increase was allocated for elections. Green said because 2019 will include a primary election for state and county officers and the subsequent runoff election, an increase of $46,667 was added to the election budget to fund salaries of poll workers and other election expenses.
• The Carroll County Sheriff’s Department will receive an increase of $30,000 to fund moving a part-time deputy to full-time, fringe benefits, and state retirement.
• The budget reflected a $12,400 increase for the custody of county prisoners.
• The county increased its allocation for Carroll County’s public libraries from $89,800 a year to $99,800.
• The Carroll County Recreational Park budget increased $4,587 for salary increases, state retirement, and supplies.
In other funds:
• The county will also increase its allocation from the general fund to E911 in the amount of $25,388 to fund the E911 supplement. The E911 budget also increased $25,388 which will fund state retirement increases, some merit pay increases, and mandatory updates to the E911 system.
• The Garbage Fund will receive a $20,528 increase to offset increases in disposal fees, but Green said garbage fees paid by customers will offset that increase.
• The Beat 2 Road Maintenance Fund will see a $450 increase for state retirement and $1,659 for supplies.
• The Beat 5 Road Maintenance Fund will see a $15,391 increase which will go toward $3,621 for retirement increases, and $15,500 for asphalt and gravel. Decreases in Capital Outlay in the amount of $4,115 will help offset increases. Green said Beat 5 has plenty of money in its cash reserves to cover the cost of asphalt and gravel.
• The county’s bridge and culvert fund will increase $27,615 which will go toward some merit pay increases, state retirement mandates, contractual increases, and the purchase of culverts.
• The Carroll Montgomery Regional Correctional Facility will see a decrease in its annual budget of $298,733. After the retirement of the note on the facility, $454,400 annually, the facility will see increases in personal services for salaries and state retirement, various contractual obligations, supplies, and the purchase of a new vehicle for the facility. Projected revenues for the jail equal $2,615,816, with expenses equaling $2,584,387. Green said that leaves about $30,000 of revenue to cover unexpected expenses or revenue shortfalls in the future.
A public hearing regarding the proposed FY2019 Carroll County budget will be held on September 11, 2018, at 10 a.m. at the courthouse in Carrollton.
