Brown County Commissioners heard the financial report for fiscal year 2010 in Monday’s commissioner’s court. Despite an economically hard year, Brown County was able to slim their spending and have net revenue that was $292,340.45 under expenses for fiscal year 2010, ending September 30, 2010.
County Auditor Nina Cox reported that the county requires $695,000 to operate each month and currently there are 4 months of reserves in the General Fund. The current budget is $18.5 million for 2010.
When asked by Commissioner Richard Gist how Cox as the auditor felt about the general fund balance, Cox stated she was satisfied with the numbers.
“The county is rated as a AAA entity as far as our credit rating goes,” stated Cox. “We do maintain sufficient fund balances according to the general accounting principles. I would like to see our reserves at 6 months in our ‘rainy day’ account.”
Cox attributed the fund success to the department heads of the county for limiting spending even at the end of the fiscal year.
“I believe that everyone in the county, elected officials do try their best to maintain their spending. They do not just run out and spend money because they need too,” said Cox. “I think we are trying to get over that end of the year ‘oh I’ve only got $500 left I need to run out and spend it’ attitude. That really helps our fund balances, so I thank you guys for that.”
Judge Ray West asked Cox if the financial statement would be put on the webpage this year. Cox stated that she does not currently have the ability to scan in the file as a PDF file, but that will change once the new IT person is hired.
In other matters on the agenda:
*Commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding between the Abilene Regional Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Inc. and Brown County. This agreement is entered into each year and allows for the council to provide services such as counseling to Brown County residents.
*Purchase of hardware and software for mapping through HAVA funding was approved by commissioners. Total cost for the hardware and software totals $13,008.82, which will leave $10,576.70 in the HAVA funds. This money has to be spent by December 31, 2011 or be returned. County Elections Administrator Suzy Young stated that she would like to see the money spent on more laptops which can be used at the poll locations. Currently the elections office has 5 laptops.
*Commissioners unanimously approved a tax resale deed to Eugene L. Thomas and Cheri R. Thomas regarding lot 378, Section 2, Thunderbird Bay Subdivision. The bid price was equal to the tax appraisal value of $1350. Taxes and fees due were $2037.69, of that $786.69 were taxes due.