A summary of the 2005 Fremont County audit report and approval of the 2007 recycling agreement highlighted the agenda for the Board of Commissioners Tuesday.
Paul Holscher of Johnson, Holscher, and Company C.P.A.'s of Centennial gave a brief overview of the audit with most of his concerns pointing towards the decreasing fund balance in the county's general fund. Noting that the cash reserves in the general fund totaled $291,000 at the end of 2005, Holscher said that amount is getting dangerously low to support a $10 million budget. He said that fund balance represents only 2.8 percent of the general fund spending. His audit report recommends about a ten percent balance of approximately $1 million.
County Finance Director Dana Angel also pointed out that the Sheriff's Department spent $4.7 million in 2005 while total revenue from county property taxes was only $4.1 million. Angel says his research found only one other county where Sheriff's spending exceeds property tax collections. Angel says that is in El Paso County but added that El Paso County's sales tax base is five times what is collected in property taxes.
The Commissioners approved the 2007 Recycling Program agreement with the Upper Arkansas Area Council of Governments. Recycling coordinator Beth Lenz said over 520,000 tons of material is estimated to be collected in 2006 through Fremont County recycling efforts. Lenz said those numbers do not include plastics. She said over a ton of plastics are being recycled each month at the collection site on South 9th Street in Canon City. Lenz said that beginning in January the plastic recycling program will accept only #1 and #2 plastics requiring area residents to sort their plastics. Lenz said the proceeds from the sale of recycling products should lower Fremont County's share of the recycling costs in 2007 by about $4,400.
In other action the Board of Commissioners:
Paul Holscher of Johnson, Holscher, and Company C.P.A.'s of Centennial gave a brief overview of the audit with most of his concerns pointing towards the decreasing fund balance in the county's general fund. Noting that the cash reserves in the general fund totaled $291,000 at the end of 2005, Holscher said that amount is getting dangerously low to support a $10 million budget. He said that fund balance represents only 2.8 percent of the general fund spending. His audit report recommends about a ten percent balance of approximately $1 million.
County Finance Director Dana Angel also pointed out that the Sheriff's Department spent $4.7 million in 2005 while total revenue from county property taxes was only $4.1 million. Angel says his research found only one other county where Sheriff's spending exceeds property tax collections. Angel says that is in El Paso County but added that El Paso County's sales tax base is five times what is collected in property taxes.
The Commissioners approved the 2007 Recycling Program agreement with the Upper Arkansas Area Council of Governments. Recycling coordinator Beth Lenz said over 520,000 tons of material is estimated to be collected in 2006 through Fremont County recycling efforts. Lenz said those numbers do not include plastics. She said over a ton of plastics are being recycled each month at the collection site on South 9th Street in Canon City. Lenz said that beginning in January the plastic recycling program will accept only #1 and #2 plastics requiring area residents to sort their plastics. Lenz said the proceeds from the sale of recycling products should lower Fremont County's share of the recycling costs in 2007 by about $4,400.
In other action the Board of Commissioners:
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granted a six month extension to Jim Fontana to pave the parking lot of the True Value Hardware store at Highways 50 and 67 north of Florence;
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approved a six month extension for the Croix lot line adjustment for four lots near Highway 50 and County Road 48;
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and set two public hearings on the county's 2007 proposed budget....both on November 21st at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.