Morgan County officials need help to produce a balanced budget in 2024
The Morgan County Council is making plans for the 2024 budget process.
Monday night council members discussed holding a financial workshop with Reedy Financial on June 24 at the county administration building. The workshop will run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Morgan County Auditor Linda Pruitt said the state has made changes to the law that may affect the county's budget process. During the budget process last year, the council was going to make changes to the Local Income Tax but due to a problem in advertising, the council had to wait until this year.
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In past years, the county's budget for operations was greater than the money collected from taxes and other fees. The county has had to use savings to balance the budget. Council members said they need assistance to help come up with a balanced budget for 2024 and this is the first step.
Other business
The council appropriated $100,000 from the Rainy Day account to help pay for costs the county incurred from the March 31 tornado.
The state will reimburse the county for up to 80% of what it spends on cleanup, which will go back into the Rainy Day fund.
The council appropriated around $7,100 to the county highway department for operating supplies. The money came from the sale of scrap metal that had accumulated at the highway department.
Commissioner Bryan Collier asked the council's opinion on changes to the county's holiday schedule for 2024. As it now stands, county employees will receive 16 holidays next year. Collier said he talked to the other two commissioners about adding two additional holidays next year.
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Collier proposed adding Friday, July 5, and Monday, Dec. 23, to the schedule. Adding July 5 would give employees four days off in a row while the December day would give them five days in a row off. He said the county wants to thank its employees for their work. The council did have several questions about giving employees the extra days off but members were not opposed. The council will discuss the matter at a later date.
Finally Collier said the total solar eclipse will occur on April 8, 2024. He said Morgan County will be located nearly in the middle of the path of totality, which could mean there may be a large number of people in the county that day. He said there are people making plans now.
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The next scheduled council meeting is Wednesday, July 5, at 6:30 p.m. at the county administration building.
This article originally appeared on The Reporter Times: Morgan County to hire firm to assist in producing balanced budget
