Approved monday – 2021 County Budget Totals $14,531,457.09

Washington County Commission approved $12 per hour base pay for Courthouse employees and salary increase for all employees.

The Washington County Commission and County Clerk/Budget Officer Jeanette Allen held the annual County Budget Hearing beginning at 9 A.M. Monday, January 25th in the Courthouse Commission Room.

A small group of approximately 18 people were in attendance, some elected officials, employees of county entities and some general public.

The meeting was called to order and Presiding Commissioner Dave Sansegraw opened with a welcome and said “Thank you all for coming to our Annual Washington County Budget Hearing.”

The Budget Message is in the front of the budget and reads as follows:

“The 2021 Operating Budget for Washington County reflects conservatively estimated revenues totaling $16,276,015.00.

The funds available for the General Revenue Fund total $3,711,616.00. Road and Bridge Funds total $3,307,011.91. The Assessment Fund totals $544,050.66 and the Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Fund totals $1,970,318.68.

Grant Funds totaling $658,999.00 are included in the revenue estimates. The Washington County Airport has $271,955.00 available to complete the obstruction removal and entrance relocation project. The Second District will use Federal Land Access Program grant funding in the amount of $67,217.00 to begin bridge projects on Harmon and Pigeon Roost Roads, and $30,000.00 in BRO grant funding for two BRO Bridge Projects on Delbridge Road. The First District will use $213,217.00 in CDBG grant funding to replace the Goose Creek Bridge and has set aside $30,000.00 in county funds to upgrade a bridge on Dart Road.

The Washington County General Revenue Fund received $1,028,167.99 in Sales Tax which was $123,167.99 more than the projected $905,000.00. Use Tax was also up at $455,492.79 which was $130,492.79 more than the projected $325,000.00. With the increased revenue, the Washington County Commission was able to pay off the note for the buildings on North Missouri Street and purchase the Hocker Oil building adjacent to the Courthouse parking lot. In addition, the Commission was also able to transfer $385,000.00 to the General Revenue Building Fund to close out the 2020 budget year.

The Washington County Commission is constantly striving to upgrade the aging facilities and maintain a safe, accessible, and comfortable working environment for all employees. With those things in mind, the Commission used CARES Act Grant Funding to upgrade an adjacent building so that the Associate Circuit Court and all Circuit Court employees could be relocated into that building. This move will allow the Associate Circuit Court to operate safely in a courtroom designed to promote social distancing. The Commission also used CARES Act Grant Funding to renovate an unused space at the Washington County Jail. This space was converted into a dormitory-style unit designed to enable the Sheriff’s Department to quarantine sick inmates away from the general population.

The 2021 Operating Budget reflects a projected transfer from the General Revenue Building Fund in the amount of $289,000.00. These funds will be used to complete and furnish the main level of the Court Annex Building and renovate the upstairs of that building for future office space.

The Washington County Commission is dedicated to providing a fair wage to all employees. The 2021 Operating Budget provides for an increase in the starting pay for Courthouse employees to a salary equivalent $12.00 per hour with all employees receiving a salary increase.

/s/ Budget Officer Mrs. Jeanette Allen”

Presiding Commissioner Dave Sansegraw thanked the public for the support of the County’s business community and noted the increased sales tax and use tax numbers. Sansegraw talked about 2020 and the challenges that everyone faced and remembered those passed away during the pandemic.

Presiding Commissioner Sansegraw read a statement from 1st District Commissioner Doug Short as he thanked everyone for the support of the County and local businesses. Short noted the 8 miles of road pavement that was laid in 2020. The plan is to put down 10 miles of asphalt in 2021. The Goose Creek Bridge project is coming up in the new year.

Short did want to remind everyone that the 1/2¢ Sales Tax for Road and Bridge is coming up to be renewed in April and that the tax is collected from everyone that spends money in the County, not just residents. First District Commissioner Doug Short was not able to attend as he was quarantined due to the Covid-19 virus. Commissioner Sansegraw did say that he was doing well.
2nd District Cody Brinley talked about some of the paving projects the road crew had completed. Brinley also added, “We’ve got five bridge projects that we are working on, and part of that goes back three years.”

Commissioner Sansegraw asked for questions from those in attendance. There were a couple of questions on possible road issues in the County and Sansegraw asked for names and phone numbers to follow up after the meeting.

Cody Brinley, 2nd District Commissioner made the motion to accept the 2021 Budget for the County and Presiding Commissioner Dave Sansegraw seconded the motion. The Budget was approved.

Dave Sansegraw, Presiding Commissioner thanked everyone present again for their attendance and support for Washington County.

The Commissioners then went into regular session for their meeting.