County passes FY 2013-14 budget

The Carbon County Commission approved the county’s final 2013-14 fiscal year budget July 16 during its regular board meeting at the Carbon County Courthouse.

Going off original department budget requests made earlier this year, department heads cut more than $8 million in response to Carbon County’s current financial situation. The final expenditure total for the 2013-14 budget was $34,994,061.85. In the general fund, the final estimate of revenue total was $24,269,264.54; the estimated cash available was $2,927,152.01; and the final tax levy requirement was $7,797,645.30.

County Commissioner Sue Jones mentioned some requests, including four new fire trucks, had to be left out from the 2013-14 budget, and state assessments were down by $130 million, all based on energy.

The budget was presented July 15, and approved without changes first thing the following morning. According to official budget statements, large amounts awarded to revenue categories included $1,307,357.53 for General SCRF Road Funds, $975,000 for County Share Sales Tax, $700,000 for Special Fuels and $575,000 for General Motor Vehicle County Fees.

Other large amounts for expenditures included $2.6 million for Carbon County administrator health insurance, $1,109,277.44 for Carbon County jailers, $833,756 for Carbon County Sheriff’s Office deputies, $668,967 for the Carbon County Library and $666,415 for Carbon County Road and Bridge Department personnel.