The Polk County Board of Commissioners might have taken their time approving the new fiscal year budget, but once again they did so to ensure the county government is operating within it’s means after cutting the millage rate for upcoming property tax bills.

The finance committee and the commission as a whole reviewed five drafts of the budget presented by County Administration over the past months, using the last round to tighten some funding to keep this fiscal year budget in line with the $23,214,825 in revenue and spending for the year.

That included a last minute amendment needed for $13,500 to cover the cost of radar studies needed for the Polk County Police. That is coming out of prior year fund balance to cover the costs added to the budget.

“(We were on the) fifth revision and it doesn’t sound like a lot but a lot of work involved, but we spent a lot of time on it,” Commissioner Scotty Tillery said following the budget’s passage during the Sept. 1 meeting. He was also excited about the millage rate and that he was “comfortable this board will help with the finance department and help keep our expenses down.” 

He is one of the three members of the finance committee who spent the past summer months working to ensure the budget numbers fall in line with how much the county is collecting in property taxes this year.

This year’s budget in the revenue columns includes more than $17.4 million in tax collections on the year, another $175,300 in licenses and permit fees received, $513,120 in intergovernmental revenue, $910,000 in charges for services, $732,000 in fines and forfeitures, $10,000 in investment income and another $590,668 in miscellaneous revenues. An “other financing sources” column includes $2.8+ million for revenue on the year.

In terms of expenditures, departments are making due with what they have to work with for FY 2021.

That includes Public Safety spending of $10.9+ million this year – the largest expenditure for the county – followed by general government funding at $4.3+ million, the cost of running the courts and offices associated at $3,205,662 and the cost of running Public Works at $3,201,384.

Housing and development costs are put at $538,950, and agency allocations for FY 2021 stood at $980,510.

Under Public Safety, The County Police was approved for a $3,187,450 budget for the fiscal year, the Sheriff’s Office submitted a budget of more than $5.6 million, Animal Control at $340,995, and the volunteer fire department costs at $244,788. Prisoner Medical Services for the fiscal year at the jail is expected to cost $484,610.

County Commission Chair Hal Floyd, Commissioner Tillery and Commissioner Ray Carter all thanked one another during comments on Tuesday evening for their work on the budget, and the countless hours that county administration like Finance Director Muriel Dulaney and County Manager Matt Denton put into the efforts on several drafts of the budget.

“Hats off for the everyone who worked on it and approved it,” Floyd said.

Carter during his comments following the budget’s passing this year said that this was going to be a fiscal year that will require everyone to work together to keep the spending tight and revenue flowing to ensure there are no problems heading into FY 2022 as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause issues all around.

“Let’s be tolerant and understanding of that as the year goes through, and give them the tools that they need to get the job done and be prepared for ups and downs,” Carter said. “We must understand this is a difficult year and next year will be likely as well.”