by Leah Justice
The Polk County Board of Commissioners will hear comments tonight on its proposed fiscal year 2014-2015 budget, which begins July 1.
The county is proposing no tax increases for its general fund, although the Columbus Fire District is proposed to raise 1.5 cents per $100 of valuation.
The budget proposal includes a department of social service (DSS) child protection employee that has been requested the past few years and previously declined. The budget proposal also includes an additional school resource officer to add to the two current officers hired the current fiscal year.
The proposal includes taking one-time capital expenditures out of the county’s fund balance at a total of $314,719.
Capital expenditures include for next year’s budget include four new sheriff’s office vehicles, 30 Glock 45 guns, digital radios, SERT team needs and continued funding for a new crime interdiction sergeant for the sheriff’s office. The total capital sheriff’s office request for next year is $133,206, according to the budget proposal.
EMS is proposed to receive a new defibrillator, EZ glide stair chair, computer and a small ambulance, estimated at a total of $79,300 to be taken from fund balance next year.
Other major capital expenditures to be taken out of fund balance include $27,000 for the county’s management information system department to upgrade the county servers and increase storage.
The county is also proposing to purchase four new vans for its transportation authority at a total cost of $235,134, but the county will only have to pay for $26,126 of the expenditure because 90 percent of the cost is reimbursed by the state.
Other department capital expenditures to be taken from fund balance are less than $10,000 requests.
The Polk solid waste department (transfer station) is proposed to purchase a new loader, two 40-yard recycling boxes, two 6-yard trash boxes and a push lawnmower for $194,300 but will take the expenditures out of its own fund balance.
The county’s meeting begins at 7 p.m. Monday, June 2 in the commissioner meeting room on the second floor of the Womack building in Columbus. The public hearing will be the first item on the agenda.