County approves 2017-18 budget

Cheyenne County Commissioners Monday approved the 2017-18 budget.

The county is requesting $6.64 million in property taxes, a decrease from the $6.68 million requested for the 2016-17 year.

Before taxes, the total budget amounts to $13,189,303, an increase from $11,991,544 the previous year.

Commissioners acted to set a 2017-18 county tax levy that was different than the 2016-17 levy.

“Your levy last year was at that .429714 after the amended budget was filed, and the property tax request this year is about one cent less, .419891,” Rachel Smith, Rauner & Associates CPA, explained. “Since your levy is a different amount than the stated amount in the property tax rolls, verified with the state from the year before, you have to approve that.”

She added, “The actual dollar amount you’re asking for, different than the year before, is about $40,000 less.”

In addition to approving the budget, commissioners also approved increasing 2017-18 restricted fund revenues by an additional 1 percent, for a total of 3.5 percent.

“Your standard budget document only goes up 2.5 percent of your restricted levy each year, and an additional 1 percent would be allowed if 75 percent of your board approves it,” Smith said. “It sets your levy and helps you at the beginning point for next year should you have a drastic change in valuation and property taxes.”

Commissioners also approved transferring $1.67 million from the county general fund to the county road fund.

“We transfer one half of it, at $832,509.50, by December 3rd, and $832,509.50 by April 30,” Beth Fiegenschuh, county clerk, said.

This is done yearly because the department does not have a tax levy.

Smith explained there is no disadvantage to keeping the money in general funds versus transferring it to the county roads fund.

“They just have a larger tax reserve,” she said. “If the timing of the project doesn’t start by June 30 next year, say it starts in the next fiscal year, they would just have a higher cash reserve in their own fund so then next year you wouldn’t have to do as much.”

Commissioners approved transferring up to $150,000 “as needed” from the visitors improvement fund to visitors promotion fund.

“If they don’t need the whole $150,000 this budget year,” Fiegenschuh said, “that will remain in the improvement fund.”