The Woodward News

Local News

September 25, 2012

County wraps up budget

Rowynn Ricks Woodward News

Woodward, Okla. — Woodward County Commissioners have signed a $4 million budget for the county for Fiscal Year 2012-2013.

Commissioners signed the budget documents during their regular meeting Monday morning.

County Clerk Charolett Waggoner said the documents will now go to the Woodward County Excise Board, which meets today, for final approval.

Waggoner said the budget of $4,018,346.40 is "a little under" the county's previous budget of $4,112,420.26 for FY 2011-2012.

Commission Chair Tommy Roedell said part of the reason the budget dipped by around $94,000 this year is because of the damage done by the April 15 tornado.

Roedell was referencing the impact to county property valuations as more than 220 homes and businesses damaged or destroyed by the tornado.

"We had other things through additions and housing that helped keep it up, but the tornado definitely affected us," he said.

According to a budget comparison form, the current year's valuation stands at $253,360,102 which is up almost $1.3 million from last year's valuation of $252,088,114.

However, Roedell indicated that the increase would have been higher if not for the tornado damage.

Also while valuations are up slightly, meaning a slight increase in ad valorem tax revenue estimates, other revenue estimates are down for the county.

The biggest drop is in carryover, which seems to make up most of the difference from the prior year budget as carryover dropped over $95,000 from almost $1.5 million last year to a little over $1.4 million for FY 2012-2013.

Also dropping are county clerk fee revenues which are estimated to be down over $15,000 from $85,466.89 last year to just under $70,000 this year.

The following is a breakdown of the FY 2013 budget, with totals listed for each county department:

• District Attorney - $3,000

• County Sheriff - $1,043,838

• County Treasurer - $233,880.33

• County Commissioners - $272,007.13

• Court Clerk - $274,002

• County Clerk - $313,539.76

• County Assessor - $214,668.92

• Visual Inspection - $212,047.64

• Juvenile Shelter - $37,800

• General Government - $1,219,406.52

• Excise/Equalization Board - $3,511

• County Election Expense - $94,972.91

• Charity - $2,000

• Recording Services - $11,000

• Civil Defense/Emergency Management - $40,000

• County Audit - $42,672.19

In addition to signing the budget to be sent on to the excise board for finalization, county commissioners also acted Monday on a couple of other routine financial matters.

They approved the alcoholic beverage tax allocation for September in the amount of $10,471.42.

They also approved the county cash fund estimate of needs and request for appropriations for September in the amount of $269,174.39, according to District No. 3 Commissioner Vernie Matt.

"We like it a little better when it's over $300,000," Roedell said.

However, Matt noted the amount was "up a little from last month" and would give around $89,725 to each highway district for expenditures.

County commissioners also approved blanket purchase orders and the disposal of some old equipment from the county clerk's office.

"We had some old office chairs and we replaced those, and there was also a monitor, printer and a server that we no longer use," Waggoner said.

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