Commissioners Hammer Out Budget Plan

The Cheyenne County Commissioners met Wednesday for a budget workshop to work out the details in the 2018-2019 budget.

Part of the issue, according to Commissioner Randal Miller, is the drop in valuation and adjusting the budget accordingly.

Wednesday was spent reviewing departments and their requests. Commissioners called and met with department representatives on specific expenditure requests and if they could be justified. The commissioners met with Tourism Director Kevin Howard, Buildings and Grounds Superintendent Roger Conley, and talked with Cheyenne County Fair Board members.

Howard was questioned regarding a requested transfer of $150,000 to tourism. Howard said he thinks of the budget as spending his own money; he wants to know every penny is spent wisely.

The commissioners said their initial concern was how much of the $150,000 would be used for new billboard advertising.

Howard said there are several projects county tourism is committed to, including a study on the community by Blue SoHo at a cost of $25,000.

“What we've found out so far, Cheyenne County does not have a magnet attraction,” he said.

He said there was a time Sidney and Cheyenne County could look to Cabela's as an attraction, a magnet. Now, there are Cabela's outlets in several locations.

“The world has changed.Blue SoHo has determined we need to be a service attraction,” he said.

Howard said a service attraction would offer a service incentive — hotel accommodations and and restaurants for example — to encourage commuters to stop in Sidney. From there, the community could promote local attractions.

He said he is expecting tourism to bring in about $128,000, but there is facility costs and salaries to consider. He said the Improvement Fund can be used to promote events.

“The Improvement Fund is going to be used for everything happening in the county,” he said.

Howard said billboards will cost about $8,000 per year.

“Right now, I'm not planning on putting up any bill boards until January,” he said.

He cited a billboard near milemarker 63 on Interstate 80 cost about $1,400 for a new vinyl cover. The county has 10 billboards, leasing the land each is on.

County Clerk Beth Fiegenschuh said the county needs to show the transfer or the tourism board won't be able to do it.

The commissioners also reviewed proposed Fair Board projects including new arena lights, new showers, and electric wiring for “the shack” north of the arena. Arena lights are estimated to cost $40,000. The commissioners suggested the Fair Board schedule use of county roads equipment, including skid loaders and mowers, prior to and during fair time.

The commissioners also reviewed a proposed purchase of a new mower and its attachments for the buildings and grounds department.

Miller said the commissioners' intent is to reduce the mill levy.

“It is our intent to drop the mill levy with the valuation. That is why we're being so hard on everybody,” he said.

The assessed valuation for Cheyenne County fell from $1,581,431,435 in 2017 to $1,475,380,488 in 2018.

No action was taken Wednesday. The commissioners will meet 8 a.m. Monday, Aug. 20. The budget has to be finalized by Sept. 4 and submitted to the State by Sept. 20.