County's Cash Reserves Continue Decline
Figures, which Glasscock County Treasurer Alan Dierschke supplied for the commissioners court on Aug. 20, show that the county's cash reserves have been generally headed downward since 1997. At that time, the county had reserves of $926,000, and Dierschke estimates reserves at the end of 2002 will be $288,000. Cash reserves for other years in the period were: 1998, $815,000; 1999, $831,000; 2000, $690,000 and 2001, $326,000.
The figures show that road crew and insurance expenses take most of the county's budget. Based on figures from Oct. 1, 2000 to Sept. 30, 2001, the road crew expenses accounted for 42 percent (figures rounded), while insurance took 21 percent.
The sheriff's and tax collector's expenses took 9 percent, county commissioners and the county/district clerk's expenses were 4 percent apiece. The extension service took 3 percent. At 2 percent each were general expenses, county judge, appraisal district, trappers, jail department, and courthouse. The county treasurer, emergency services, landfill, custodian, justice of the peace and constable each accounted for 1 percent.
Ad valorem taxes provided 82 percent of the county's general fund revenues, with auto registration bringing in 7 percent.