VIENNA — On Feb. 1, the Maries County Commission approved the 2024 budget with an increase from last year and a total budget of $7,894,111.

Several taxes bring revenue to the county. Roads, General Revenue and Citizen Safety funds share revenue from the half-cent sales tax. General Revenue (one-sixth), Roads (one-fifth) and Citizen Safety (two-thirds) split another half-cent sales tax. Another sales tax provides one-third of one-half-cent to Citizen Safety for law enforcement services.

Last October, the Maries County Salary Commission composed of elected officials met to set a target for employee raises and cost of living adjustments (COLA) for officials. The salary commission approved a $2.50 per hour employee raise and a 5 percent COLA if the budget allowed. The budget approved by the county commission includes full funding for the raises and the COLA. The county will also continue to pay 80 percent of employee medical insurance.

Plans for the county government as a whole in 2024 include four restroom renovations at the courthouse, two land purchases and potentially a grant for a courthouse generator.

General County Government

The budget estimate for revenue that will support the General Revenue fund in 2024 is $2,189,283, which is an increase from $1,938,810 in actual revenue in 2023. Property taxes, sales taxes, intergovernmental revenue, charges for service, interest income and other revenues contribute to General Revenue.

Eleven funds compose the total General County Government budget, for which the combined approved 2024 budget is $847,878. The figure is an increase from the approved $699,623 and $676,604 in actual expenses in the 2023 budget.

The approved budget for the county commission in 2024 is $105,926, which is an increase from $99,150 approved and $100,889 spent in 2023. Line items that saw increases in the 2024 budget include commissioner salaries, which together total $100,226 (up from $95,00 after the salary commission-approved COLA), office supplies ($600 to $1,000), travel mileage ($800 to $1,400) and miscellaneous other expenses ($250 to $1,500).

The approved budget for the county clerk’s office in 2024 is $104,941, which is an increase from $94,128 approved and $103,001 spent in 2023. Line items that increased in the 2024 budget include the county clerk’s salary ($47,033 to $49,395), deputy and clerical salaries ($33,500 to $38,280), office supplies ($1,000 to $1,300), software maintenance ($10,000  to $11,526), room and meals ($800 to $1,250) and registration fees ($1,125 to $1,300).

The Election budget increased because 2024 has several notable local, state and federal elections. The approved 2024 election budget is $112,520 with the biggest line items being ballots/other expenses ($43,000), judges/clerks/etc. ($17,030), grant ($15,000), computer maintenance/warranty/licensing ($14,000) and voter clerk ($13,563).

The Buildings and Grounds budget increased to $132,300 in 2024. The 2023 approved budget was $123,005 with actual spending totaling $98,534. Line items with increases include supplies ($4,000 to $5,300), gas/oil/fuel ($13,000 to $13,500), lawn care ($1,055 to $5,400), repairs/upkeep ($30,000 to $38,000), generator ($0 to $1,000), contract labor ($1,500 to $3,000) and cleaning ($28,800 to $32,000).

Several Buildings and Grounds line items also saw decreases in the 2024 budget. Budget decreases include custodian’s salary ($3,000 to $0), electric ($25,000 to $22,000), water/sewer ($5,500 to $4,000), trash service ($4,500 to $3,500), equipment/furniture ($1,000 to $0) and elevator ($5,000 to $4,500).

Employee Benefits received a budget increase from $105,619 approved and $121,388 in actual expenses in 2023 to $142,948 in 2024. Employee benefits include Social Security, medical and life insurance, workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance.

The approved budget for the treasurer’s office in 2024 is $60,585, which is an increase from $52,400 approved and $53,256 in actual expenses in 2023. Line items with budget increases include treasurer’s annual salary ($47,043 to $49,395) and computer software ($2,600 to $8,750).

The approved budget for the collector’s office in 2024 is $109,250, which is an increase from $101,395 approved and $96,085 in actual expenses in 2023. Line items with budget increases include collector’s annual salary ($47,043 to $49,395), deputy and clerical annual salaries ($35,116 to $38,405), city 1 percent collection ($1,200 to $1,500), postage ($2,000 to $2,500) and computer maintenance ($1,500 to $1,600).

Budget decreases in 2024 include office supplies ($6,000 to $4,000) and land sales ($1,000 to $400).

The approved budget for the circuit clerk’s office in 2024 is $60,640, which is an increase from $58,080 approved and $43,460 in actual expenses in 2023. The only line item increase is deputy and clerical annual salaries ($38,000 to $40,560).

The Recorder of Deeds budget stayed at $0. Maries County has a dual circuit clerk and recorder of deeds.

The Court Administration budget stayed the same as 2023’s approved budget at $1,182. Actual expenses in 2023 totaled $623.

The approved budget for the public administrator is $17,586, which is a decrease from the $22,289 approved in 2023 and an increase from the $16,936 in actual expenses in 2023. The attorney fees line item sees a decrease from $4,800 in the 2023 budget to $0 in the 2024 budget.

Public Safety

Five funds compose the Public Safety budget, for which the combined approved budget is $405,982. The figure is an increase from the $370,111 approved and $377,722 in actual expenses in the 2023 budget.

State statute sets the sheriff’s salary at $78,000. The sheriff’s annual salary in the 2024 budget is $79,652.

The Jail budget remains at $0. Jail expenses are factored into other funds.

State statute sets the prosecuting attorney’s salary at $153,000. The approved budget allocates $159,304 for the prosecutor’s salary. In total, the prosecutor’s office budget is $250,725. The figure is an increase from the $217,635 approved and $236,489 in actual expenses in 2023.

Prosecuting Attorney line items with increases in the 2024 budget include clerical salaries  ($58,240 to $70,823), registration fees/dues ($6,000 to $6,500) and retirement ($0 to $11,628). Budgeted litigation expenses decreased from $1,000 to $300.

The budget for deputy and clerical annual salaries for the juvenile officer increased to $31,452 from $30,593 approved and $25,686 in actual expenses from 2023.

The coroner’s budget decreased to $44,153 from the approved $46,865 in the 2023 budget and increased compared to the $39,040 in actual expenses in 2023. Line item increases in the coroner’s budget include the coroner’s annual salary ($14,795 to $15,535) miscellaneous other expenses ($350 to $2,200), travel mileage ($925 to $1,335), room and meals ($500 to $1,038) and training ($1,625 to $1,650).

Line item decreases in the 2024 coroner’s budget include autopsy and other expenses ($25,000 to $20,000) and medical waste disposal ($2,000 to $1,500).

Other Government

Four funds compose General Revenue’s “Other” category, for which the combined approved budget is $392,128. The figure is an increase from the $347,255 approved and $381,010 in actual expenses in the 2023 budget.

The Trash Patrol fund stayed at $0 in the 2024 budget.

The approved license office budget increased to $110,793 from the $92,710 approved in the 2023 budget. Line items with increases include other salary/wages ($80,000 to $90,300), medical/life insurance ($220 to $7,153), FICA/unemployment ($6,470 to $7,220) and postage ($2,614 to $3,200). The approved budget for office supplies decreased from $2,700 to $2,300.

Information Technology is a new fund beginning with the 2024 budget. The approved budget is $76,694 including salary, office expenses, equipment, mileage/training and miscellaneous other expenses.

Other Government includes miscellaneous expenses. The fund’s approved 2024 budget is $204,641, which is a decrease from the approved $220,204 in the 2023 budget partially because of the movement of internet service and IT equipment line items to the new Information Technology fund. Other Government includes University of Missouri Extension (increasing from $18,500 approved in 2023 to $22,392 in 2024), vending ($0 to $400), publications ($2,300 to $600), copier ($24,000 flat), office equipment ($2,000 to $3,200), contingent jury ($0 to $100), telephone expenses ($28,000 to $26,000), postage ($2,400 to $3,500), property/liability insurance ($80,000 to $88,901), miscellaneous other ($17,000 to $20,000), Gasconade Valley Enterprise Zone ($500 to $1,000), public defender ($2,904 to $3,540), dues ($7,000 to $4,008), shredding ($3,600 to $4,000) and floodplain administration ($3,000 flat).

Assessor

The assessor’s office has an estimated income of $178,637 in the 2024 budget. The budget for the office totals $173,622, which is an increase from $163,004 in the 2023 budget. Line items increasing in the assessor’s budget include the assessor’s salary ($47,043 to $49,395), deputy and clerical annual salaries ($65,140 to $69,780), medical/life insurance ($5,551 to $8,000), postage ($7,500 to $8,000), travel ($1,500 to $4,000) and software maintenance ($14,000 to $18,000).

Line item decreases in the assessor’s budget include workers’ compensation ($3,597 to $1,843), office supplies ($2,500 to $2,000), room and meals ($1,200 to $800), registration fees ($1,500 to $1,200) and equipment/furniture ($2,500 to $0).

Road One

Road One has an estimated $1,534,713 in revenue in the 2024 budget. The figure is nearly double the actual 2023 revenue of $739,726. The difference comes from reimbursement for the state BRO-063 Bridge Project on Maries Road 213 over Fly Creek. The budget estimates $700,000 to complete the project later this year. Road One’s appropriations total $1,508,358.

The approved total salaries for Road One employees increased in the 2024 budget from $219,440 approved in 2023 to $250,800. The approved budget for property/liability insurance increased from $9,200 in 2023 to $10,665. The budget for road and bridge materials increased from $100,000 in 2023 to $120,000 in 2024. The budget for equipment purchases increased from $115,000 in 2023 to $160,000.

The budget for equipment repairs increased from $12,500 in 2023 to $96,000 this year. The budget for repairs to the No. 5 140H grader rose from $3,000 last year to $90,000 in the 2024 budget.

The approved budget for employee fringe benefits decreased from $54,962 in 2023 to $54,493 in the 2024 budget. Supplies decreased from $115,000 in 2023 to $100,000 in 2024. The budget for other expenditures, which includes electric, trash service, phone expenses, travel, uniforms and drug testing decreased from $16,150 to $13,100.

Road Two

Road Two has an estimated $559,893 in revenue in the 2024 budget. The figure is a decrease from the actual 2023 revenue of $605,858. Despite raises approved by the salary commission, the approved total salary budget for Road Two employees stayed the same as in 2023 at $148,000. The actual expenditure in 2023 was below the approved budget at $115,629. The approved budget for employee fringe benefits rose from $20,666 in 2023 to $27,651 in 2024. The approved budget for supplies increased from $145,000 to $190,000 with allocations for miscellaneous supplies, tires, blades and culver pipe staying the same. Fuel allocations decreased from $70,000 to $60,000. Property and liability insurance allocations increased from $6,000 in 2023 to $9,435 in 2024. The budget for rock and bridge maintenance increased from $105,000 in 2023 to $110,000 in 2024.

The Road Two budget includes no allocations for equipment purchases. The budget for road and bridge maintenance and repairs rose from $0 in 2023 to $50,000 in 2024. Road Two plans to replace a few low-water crossings this year.

The budget for other expenditures for Road Two increased from $11,500 in 2023 to $22,065. The line item for miscellaneous other expenditures increased from $0 in 2023 to $10,000 in 2024.

911

The approved budget for the 911 fund is $272,073, which is an increase from an approved $230,230 in 2023. Estimated revenue for the 911 fund increased from $225,460 in 2023 to $268,558. The increase includes a rise in transfers from General Revenue from $134,707 to $187,738. Approved salary expenditure increased from $193,000 in 2023 to $234,039 in the 2024 budget. Approved mileage and training costs also increased from $750 to $2,000. Other expected expenses increased from $530 to $3,834.

Allocated expenses for office equipment ($3,700 to $3,000) and equipment expenditures ($32,250 to $29,200) decreased in the 2024 budget.

Citizen Safety

The Citizen Safety fund has an estimated revenue of $1,049,796, which would be a decrease from the $1,115,869 in actual 2023 revenue. Jail board revenue is expected to decrease from $184,331 to $60,000 after the county caught up on back-billing in 2023. The approved expenditures for the Citizen Safety fund rose from $904,798 in 2023 to $1,210,962 in the 2024 budget.

The approved allocation for salary and wages increased from $455,848 to $578,320 in the 2024 budget. In addition to raises for deputies, the budget includes an increase from $6,000 to $40,500 for a clerk. The sheriff’s office recently posted an opening for a full-time clerk position. Approved expenditures for other salaries and wages, which include medical and life insurance, FICA, worker’s compensation and unemployment increased from $74,100 to $107,192. Approved expenditures for equipment increased from $211,000 in 2023 to $299,500. Line items with increases include fuel ($55,000 to $75,000), tires ($6,000 to $6,500), new cars/equipment ($80,000 to $143,000) and new equipment ($25,000 to $35,000). Decreased line items include communication ($4,500 to $3,500), radio maintenance ($2,500 to $1,500) and repairs and upkeep ($1,250 to $0).

Other expenditures including ERT, grant expenditures, property improvement and a website rose from $5,000 to $124,414. The 2023 budget included no allocations for ERT ($20,000 in 2024), website ($20,500) or property improvement ($83,914). The property improvements will include the development of newly purchased land into a training and storage facility.

Allocations for office expenditures decreased from $22,950 to $21,000. The approved budget for other expenditures including uniforms, drug enforcement, investigative expenses, prison outboard, K-9 expenses, field supplies, ammunition and more decreased from $104,000 in 2023 to $102,605.

Law Enforcement Training

The Law Enforcement Training fund has an approved budget of $11,455, which is a decrease from an approved $12,630 in 2023. The budget estimates that revenue supporting the fund will also decrease from $7,122 in 2023 to an estimated $6,250. The fund covers registration fees, room and meals, travel mileage and miscellaneous other fees incurred related to law enforcement training.

Special Sheriff Fund

The approved budget allocation for the Special Sheriff fund decreased from $58,771 in 2023 to $50,675. Expected revenue decreased from $72,675 in actual 2023 revenue to an estimation of $48,600 in 2024. Expected decreases include the line items Posse ($9,050 to an estimated $0) and donations/sales ($60,506 to an estimated $30,000). Approved allocations for equipment expenditures decreased from $51,271 in 2023 to $25,000 in 2024. Line items for equipment ($8,171 to $5,000) and ERT ($43,100 to $15,000) decreased and a line item for weapons ($0 to $5,000) increased. The budget for training increased from $0 to $1,500.

Allocations for other expenditures rose from $7,500 to $23,925. New line items from last year include deputy scholarship ($2,000 approved) and property improvements ($15,425).

Emergency Management

The Emergency Management fund has an approved budget of $27,809 in 2024, which is an increase from $23,522 in 2023. The estimated revenue for the fund is $16,795, which is a decrease from $31,652 because the budget does not include a transfer from the Citizen Safety fund that Emergency Management received last year. Most of the allocation increase comes from equipment expenditure, which rose from $6,020 in 2023 to $10,383 in 2024. SAT phone, mass communication and Community Emergency Response Training are all line items that increased in the 2024 budget.