The cost of everything is going up, but Pike County supervisors are hoping that won’t include the tax bill when the next budget takes effect in a few months and extends into an election year.
But those desires may make for some and tough choices on cutting and spending over the next few months, County Administrator Tami Dangerfield told the board on Friday.
Dangerfield said she usually starts sketching out the budget in early June.
“I just want to understand before I start what your expectations are going forward this budget year,” she told the board.
That includes what supervisors want to do about the tax levy as well as their spending priorities.
“Whatever we can do to not raise taxes. It’s probably going to mean some cuts,” Supervisor Sam Hall said, with others on the board agreeing.
While wanting to forego a tax increase in an election-year budget is certainly understandable from a political standpoint, Dangerfield told supervisions they should be aware of other economic conditions that are affecting finances.
“Please do note that we are not getting revenue because of low interest,” she said.
And other expenses are higher, including general liability and health insurance rates.
Dangerfield said she plans to send letters to department heads, who will soon be giving her feedback on budget wish lists.
“I’m going to send a letter out to the departments on the 31st and I need to know what to tell them,” Dangerfield said.
One priority to which the county has committed funds is the funding of two additional deputies, with their equipment and salaries being paid for with American Rescue Plan Act funds for half of the budget year and county funds for the other half.
“That’s an added expense, but then we’re going to have to cut the budget,” Dangerfield said.
“If we have to fund it with ARPA money for two years, then I think that’s something that makes sense,” Supervisor Jake Gazzo said.
Dangerfield said the hangar project at the McComb-Pike County Airport is expected to pay for itself through rental income, but the county would be on the hook for some initial expenses until the hangars are built and rented.
“Until they build hangars and get them filled, that expense is going to be on you,” she said.
Supervisor Robert Accardo asked about the state of the county’s assessed valuations, which is one part of the equation, along with tax rates, that determine how much money the county can expect to receive in property tax revenue.
Tax Assessor Laurie Allen said final numbers should be available in June, but she’s not expecting any significant change. However, new businesses coming into the county this year “leads me believe next year will be a better year.”
Gazzo suggested “tightening up” on donations given to local charities in order to save some expenses, but Hall advised proceeding with caution before cutting too deeply.
“Some of those organizations we give to, they really help a lot of people. I would hate to cut that out,” he said.
