Taxpayers will have the opportunity to question Cowley County commissioners about their proposed 2008 budget during a public hearing at 7 p.m. tonight at the courthouse.
The proposal calls for less than a two mill increase to help finance a $19, 741,105 budget, less transfers. That’s a $2.050.961 increase over the 2007 budget. The mill difference is 1.972.
The amount of money one mill generates is based on the county’s assessed valuation. The valuation has increased from $210,324,808 to $212,863,385 – a difference of $2,538,577. Each mill generates this year, when considering the delinquency rate, approximately $200,000 per mill, according to County Administrator Leroy Alsup.
“Probably one of the largest increases we were faced with was the way (accountants) wanted us to do our accounting. We had to do 27 payrolls in 2007. That took over some of the reserve’s that would have rolled over to help fund the 2008 budget,” he said. “Then, of course, salary adjustments, increased health insurance benefits, and the (Jason)Thurber trial. That’s expected to cost approximately $150,000.”
Commissioners will also learn more about a recent audit of the Cowley County Housing Authority which is administered by the South Central Kansas Area Agency on Aging. The audit by the Department of Housing and Urban Development found that rent calculations for group homes, such as Mosaic and Creative Community Living, were being done incorrectly, which resulted in an overpayment of rental assistance.
The housing authority will not require the facilities to repay any overpaid rental assistance, according to the housing authority. However, corrected calculations could mean rent paid by the housing authority will decrease while the amount paid by the tenant may increase.
Housing authority staff will attend the commission meeting to provide more details for the commission.
The meeting is open to the public.
