A county budget for Fiscal Year 2010 was officially adopted Monday by the Board of Supervisors, but not before one citizen voiced his objections to a tax increase to help fund the county schools.
James Nowell told supervisors that he would like to see the school district cut its own budget by 10 percent because the "economy is in the toilet and people are losing homes and losing jobs."
Residents in the county school district will see a small tax increase as supervisors had to levy 3.67 additional mills to fund Neshoba County's share of that budget.
Supervisors said cuts were made to prevent an overall tax increase, but pointed out that they had no control over the school budget.
A resident who owns a $100,000 home with homestead exemption would pay an additional $36 in taxes if they are in the county school district.
Supervisors set the millage rate and levied taxes on Monday to fund the new county budget, which included a 6 percent reduction in the general fund.
The proposed FY 2010 budget shows general fund expenses at $6,397,016 and anticipated revenue of $6,529,092.
During Monday's public hearing, Nowell said he was aware that the state had mandated cuts to the school districts but levying additional taxes on people in the county, many of whom are unemployed, is not the answer.
"People in this county are getting tired of it," Nowell said, pointing to the ceiling in the supervisors' board room after a costly courthouse renovation.
"Look at that leak," he said.
He also questioned why no one had been held accountable for continuous leaks and other problems in the county library despite an $800,000 renovation.
County Superintendent of Education George Shaw gave Nowell and the board an overview of the state and local cuts which total over $1 million for the county school district.
"Neshoba County's children deserve everything the school can provide for them to get a good education," Shaw said, noting that the district had been frugal in its spending.
Of the district's overall budget, Shaw said 85 percent goes to salaries that are set by the state.
"We really don't have a problem defending teacher pay," he said.
Shaw also reminded board members that the school district had not had a bond issue since 1979.
"That my friends is 30 years. We have scrimped and gotten by," Shaw said.
The school district has 13 buildings that leak when it rains, he said.
"That's a disgrace for some of our children," he said, noting that many of the bathrooms were also in need of renovations that would have to meet costly but needed standards under the American's with Disabilities Act.
"That would be about a half million dollars for just one building," Shaw said. "I invite anybody to show me where we are being wasteful."
The general fund includes such offices as the chancery and circuit clerks; chancery, circuit, juvenile and justice courts; emergency management; library; jail; election commission; sheriff's office; and coliseum, among numerous others.
The general fund also provides funds, in part, for such agencies as Weems Mental Health; Council on Aging; Parks and Recreation; Soil Conservation Service; County Extension Service; and the county Industrial Development Authority, among others.
Under the FY 2010 budget, the Sheriff would see his budget cut from $881,717 in FY '09 to $828,813, while the jail will go from $855,073 to $803,768.
Those two departments, along with the Board of Supervisors, operate with the highest general fund budget.
Supervisors will see their budget drop from $941,342 to $884,861.
The county hopes to reduce maintenance of building and grounds from $300,000 to $282,000 in the new year.
Emergency management will also see a large reduction, from $325,000 to $305,500.
The already financially strapped public library will operate with $13,800 less next year, while parks and recreation will receive $6,859 less from the county.
County employees will not see any salary increases in the next fiscal year.
What's more, some full-time positions, such as one vacant now in the Justice Court office, could be reduced to part-time ones.
Supervisors do not expect to fill seven vacancies currently in the road and bridge department.
