The Vermilion County Board has approved its new Fiscal Year 2020-2021 budget with $41.7 million dollars in expected expenditures.
Revenues are only expected to total $38.9 million dollars.
County Board Chairman Larry Baughn says given the fact the COVID-19 pandemic continues, some numbers surprised him….
{‘’You know, even sales tax numbers came out for second quarter of this year a couple of weeks ago. And even though – they were down considerably, but not as much as one would expect. And, of course, we’re seeing everything else just track right along,’’ said Baughn. ‘’I know I talked to the Treasurer – (Darren) Duncan – and property tax payments were coming in almost better than a year ago at this time without the pandemic. So we were very surprised at that as well.’’}
Baughn says it is anticipated that the General Fund will end the new fiscal year with a $46-thousand dollar deficit. But he notes in the 2011 fiscal year that deficit was over $400-thousand dollars. He says county office-holders and department heads helped the fund bounce back…
{‘’I think last year we put back $530-thousand dollars after our audit. And that’s continued to be the trend even in years past – underneath chairman Marron – State Representative Marron – when he was the (county board) chairman. The department heads have always been good at holding the line and not spending unless they have to,’’ added Baughn. ‘’And that’s what helps us give back to the General Fund each year and build that fund balance.’’}
Also during their meeting the county board approved their new tax levy for the upcoming fiscal year. The tax rate is expected to climb a little…going from $1.83 to $1.87 per $100 of equalized assessed value.
Steve Fourez, who chairs the Vermilion County Board’s Finance Committee, told the board there has been a little impact in the numbers from the drop in commerce due to the pandemic. But Fourez added the drop has not been as large as expected.
Also during their meeting county board members approved the certification of 17 new election judges for the Vermilion County Clerk’s Office.
The board also approved a $3,200 amendment for the State’s Attorney budget to provide one month’s salary for the new Director of the Child Advocacy Center. Future funding for the position is expected to be provided by grant money.
And the board approved a budget amendment of around $19,000 to pay for a new real-time water testing device on the North Fork River near the Bismarck road bridge. Board member Wesley Bieritz said the device will provide a better warning about what is coming downstream towards Lake Vermilion. Bieritz is a member of the Lake Vermilion Water Quality Coalition.
