County Adopts Deficit Budget, Will Keep Working to Balance It

The Perry County Board met Friday, Nov. 30 to approve the 2013 budget prior to the beginning of the fiscal year on Dec. 1.

A deficit budget predicting $6.5 million in revenue and about $6.7 million in expenses was placed on file at the second regular meeting in November.

Before adoption on Friday, the county had eliminated about half of the originally projected $153,926 deficit, bringing it to approximately $79,000. This was accomplished through small increases in projected revenue, voluntary budget reductions by office holders and the decreases in a few line items, County Clerk Kevin Kern said.

Board Chairman Bobby Kelly said he will continue to work with office holders to balance the budget then amend it.

Union employees have been working without a contract for nearly a full calendar year. Negotiations are ongoing. Once contracts are approved, the budget may have to support a year of back pay and increased labor costs.

Though the budget remains a work in progress, Kern still expects the county's tax rate to remain steady. It may even decrease slightly.

The tax levy will be discussed at the regular board meeting on Thursday, Dec. 6.