County's 2010 budget passed by quorum court in special session

CARROLL COUNTY -- The quorum court held a special meeting Tuesday morning to approve the 2010 budget.

At the Dec. 18 meeting of the quorum court, the justices of the peace had worked out most of the budget details. They gave tentative approval, but the document they approved did not include last-minute changes.

Because all the decisions had been made, passage of the ordinance took only as long as it took to read out loud. The process took almost an hour, however, because it took that long to assemble the necessary eight justices of the peace to pass the ordinance on one reading.

"We finally have a budget," said County Judge Sam Barr, who quickly called for a motion to adjourn.

County Treasurer Cindy Collins was asked about details of the budget after the meeting. "It's a good budget," she said. During the budget process, she had cautioned the JPs that revenues in the coming year might decline, and the JPs had acted accordingly, slashing requests for new expenditures.

A copy of the budget is on file with the county clerk, and is available for inspection by the public.

Total projected general fund revenues are $3.8 million, with an additional $1.4 million in carryover funds. Of that $5.2 million, the 2010 budget appropriates just over $4 million.

The road fund anticipates almost $2 million in revenues, with a $1.2 million carryover. Appropriations run just over $2 million, so that department should maintain its carryover amount.

The 2010 county general fund includes the following appropriations: