County Discusses New Budget
With Glasscock County’s 2001 taxable value at $448 million, according to figures from Chief Tax Appraiser Royce Pruit, up $114 million from last year, the Glasscock County Commissioners’ Court began work on the 2001-2002 budget at its regular meeting Aug. 13. Based on a preliminary tax rate of 41 cents per $100 valuation, estimated revenues are $2.1 million, with projected expenditures of $2.6 million. Water system revenues are expected to be $54,000, with expenses of $53,000.
The county’s effective tax rate, the rate required to raise the same monies as last year, is .4180; the maximum rate without publishing notice and holding a public hearing is .4306, and the roll-back rate is .4449.
Budget figures at this point are preliminary, and will be discussed again at a special meeting at 9 a.m. Aug. 20. County Treasurer Alan Dierschke said the budget should be final by the end of August. If increases in salaries, expenses or allowances are to be given to elected officials, notice of such increases must be published 10 days before the budget is set
Raises Requested
Dierschke reported that Sheriff Royce “Booger” Pruit has requested raises of $2400 each for himself and two deputies, and raises of $1200 for each of the two clerks in his department. Pruit now is paid $34,100 as sheriff and $12,500 as the county’s chief appraiser. Deputy Zunker is now paid $26,100, and Deputy Burnett now makes $22,100 plus $1200 as jail custodian. Valeria Hoelscher is paid $23,300; Nancy Hillger makes $21,800. Commissioner Hugh Schafer said he would be more comfortable with an increase of $1500 each for the sheriff and deputies, and said the sheriff’s clerks each got a $1200 raise last year.
Constable Leroy Hoelscher, who makes $7800 (plus $1200 as a jailer), has asked for a $2400 increase in his constable’s salary. Tisha Burnett is listed as a sheriff’s office dispatcher at a salary of $8200 for 30 hours work weekly, plus $1200 as a jailer. Three jailers’ positions are listed, but the commissioners were unsure who the third jailer is, and asked County Judge Wilburn Bednar to check with Sheriff Pruit.
Custodian Salary Increases
Commissioners decided to raise the courthouse custodian and grounds keeper’s salary from $20,300 to $24,000, and to include cemetery grounds keeping in the job. That job will ultimately include the community center building and lawn.
County Agent Steve Sturtz requested a raise for his secretary, Karen Cox, from $19,200 to $23,000, which he said would put the job more in line with others in the courthouse. Schafer also objected to that increase, saying he thought it was too large.
The county pays $20,000 for its part of Sturtz’ salary, up from $11,700 in the last fiscal year. $8000 has been budgeted for another county extension agent (FCS), but that position may not be filled.
Current commissioners’ salaries are $19,200; county judge $22,620 (plus a $10,000 state supplement); county clerk $27,500; deputy county clerk $23,300; county treasurer $22,200 (plus $6,000 water system administrator salary) and water system manager $15,000.
Health Insurance Costs Rise
Dierschke said that new state law requires that only eight percent, rather than the previous ten percent, of ad valorem taxes be set aside for indigent health care expenses, a total of $147,000 this year. He budgeted $350,000 in health insurance costs, up 15 percent from last year, and $15,000 for community center electricity, water, supplies, equipment, etc., saying that was a guess. Landfill expenses are set at $30,000, including $21,000 for Charles Pechacek’s salary and the remainder for transporting materials from the west dump to the north landfill at a cost of $250 per load.
Commissioners budgeted $320,000, the same amount as last year, for road crew salaries. Dierschke said there are 12 full-time and 3 part-time people on the crew, with salaries ranging from $22,000 for truck drivers to $25,500 for heavy equipment operators. Road equipment has a budget of $100,000, as do each of the line items for road repairs and road building materials. Seal coating and paving is funded at $225,000, and fuels at $70,000.