County budget changes won't affect taxpayers

Expenses increased but so did revenue since the 2009-10 Plymouth County budget was approved earlier this year.

The Plymouth County Supervisors Tuesday looked at a $266,463 amendment to the $18.2 million budget.

Taxpayers won't be affected by changes as all funds within the budget have reserves to cover any additional expenses.

The amendment includes $504,463 more in expenses than originally budgeted for.

The largest being $294,000 within the Plymouth County Ethanol Urban Renewal Fund for bridge work on K-42.

The county will get that money back from TIF (Tax Increment Financing) revenue generated from properties within the urban renewal district, said Auditor Stacey Feldman.

"We will recoup our costs rather quickly in this area," she said.

The amendment also includes $238,000 in revenue above that which was originally budgeted.

That amount includes $200,000 in the Mental Health Fund in the form of additional Mental Health Allowable Growth money from the state.

The supervisors will hold a 10 a.m. May 26 public hearing on the amendment before approving it.

In other business, the supervisors tossed around ideas to overcome space needs at the Plymouth County Courthouse.

The discussion continued to focus on the positives and negatives in constructing a modular building versus a conventional one.

"Whether a stick building or a modular building, we have to build for the future," Supervisor Craig Anderson said. "The important issue is we have to do something to move on. We need to push this thing forward."

The supervisors decided to get together for a work session at 1 p.m. next Tuesday, May 12, to further discuss space needs.