Commission approves 2012 county budget

The Pettis County Commission gave final approval to the 2012 budget after a public hearing on Tuesday.

Presiding Commissioner John Meehan said that estimating anticipated revenues is “challenging” but believes a formula that combines a four-year average of tax revenues with projections gleaned from meetings with county officers, department heads and local business leaders has laid the groundwork for a reliable document.

The 2012 General Revenue Budget is balanced at $5.5 million, including some “modest enhancements” for wage increases and transportation allowances.

The Road and Bridge Budget is balanced at just under $7.5 million, including expenditures for five bridge replacement projects expected to begin this year.

County officials expressed concern that an often-used federal program called Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program, or BRO, could be eliminated this year or in 2013.

Meehan said the additional Road and Bridge dollars would help “get these projects in the pipeline” so they would be eligible for credits and matching dollars accrued under the BRO program.

Western Commissioner Larry Wilson, who has long championed the program that has helped fund the replacement of 30 bridges, said the process was changed in 2011 from a one- to a two-year application.

“The consensus is probably these funds will dry up soon,” Wilson said.

Meehan credited “the cooperation and collaboration” of county officials in crafting the budget, as well as helping identify $100,000 in annual savings.

“The less money we have going out due to costs, the more money we have to do more services and do them better,” Meehan said.

He said a committee made up of county workers and officers has been formed to help locate other cost-saving measures, and he expects the committee will “find another $100,000 (in savings) for 2012.”

Steps taken in 2011 helped the county earn recognition from the Missouri Association of Counties, one of five awards presented to counties across the state.

Meehan called the moves “baby steps” but noted that “baby steps add up and turn into large leaps.”

“We made some huge leaps in 2011, and we are hoping that happens again in 2012,” Meehan said.