News

The Dent County Commission held their budget hearing Monday evening in the courtroom at the Judicial Building with several office holders and media in attendance. Skiles reported on the five major categories for the 2015 budget hearing. The General Revenue Fund showed a beginning balance of $1,328,160.80 for January 1, 2014. Revenues for 2014 totaled $1,427,483.17 and expenses came in at $1,514,709.56 leaving an ending balance as of December 31, 2014 of $1,240,934.41. The estimated revenues for 2015 are $1,535,861.00 and with estimated expenses of $1,675,461.51, that leaves an estimated ending balance for the General Revenue Fund for 2015 of $1,005.329.90. Skiles did note that with the recent grant of $32,000.00 from the Department of Natural Resources for replacement of the round windows on the top floor of the Courthouse, the line item of Grants under other expenses in the General Revenue was lowered from $100,000.00 to $50,000.00. The Road and Bridge Department showed a beginning balance of $126,101.64 for January 1, 2014. Revenues for the year came in at $1,604,872.17 and expenses totaled $1,694,210.35, which left an ending balance as of December 31, 2014 of $36,763.46. Estimated revenues for 2015 are $1,361,908.00 and expenses are estimated at $1,348,611.12. The estimated ending balance for Road and Bridge for 2015 is $35,035.34. The Assessment Fund showed a beginning balance of $67,266.59 as of January 1, 2014. Revenues for 2014 totaled $184,514.39 and expenses came in at $176,184.83. The ending balance for the Assessment Fund as of December 31, 2014 was $75,596.15. The estimated revenues for 2015 are $187,968.00 with estimated expenses of $204,032.00, which would leave an ending balance of $59,532.15 for 2015. In the 9-1-1 Fund the beginning balance on January 1, 2014 was $88,385.30. Revenues came in at $38,525.32 with expenses totaling $46,188.89, leaving an ending balance of $80,721.73 as of December 31, 2014. For 2015, revenues are estimated to be $38,635.00 and expenses are estimated to be $49,834.58 bringing the estimated ending balance for December 31, 2015 to $69,522.15. The LEST (Law Enforcement Sales Tax) Fund showed a beginning balance of $148,560.98 on January 1, 2014. Revenues for the fund totaled $1,142,382.64, while expenses were $1,064,943.74, leaving an ending balance of $225,999.88 as of December 31, 2014. Estimated revenues for 2015 are $1,180,221.60 while expenses are estimated at $1,211,347.19. The estimated ending balance for December 31, 2015 is $194,874.29. After the budget was presented, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell and District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson addessed the need to maintain the 45 miles of chip and seal roads in Dent County as soon as possible, otherwise they risk losing those roads.  Even if only seven to eight miles of chip and seal are done each year, the cost ranges from $18,000 to $20,000 per mile and the County cannot afford to do that with the drop in funding from MoDOT. The Commission again expressed the need for the 1/4 of one cent sales tax that will be on the April ballot for the Road and Bridge Department. Skiles noted that the Senate Bill 40 Board had budgeted a beginning balance for 2014 of $734,515 and the ending balance came in at $739,137. The estimated ending balance for 2015 is $744.127. Skiles also made note of the fact the Sandy Hogan will be retiring from the Senate Bill 40 Board in March after 33 years of service. After approval of the amendments to the budget, the Commission voted 3-0 to accept the 2015 budget for Dent County. The meeting was then adjourned. 

Route AC in Reynolds and Dent County will be reduced as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform pavement repairs. This section of roadway is located between Highway 32 and end of the state maintenance. If weather allows, this work will take place today, January 28^th, from 8:00 this morning until 2:30 this afternoon. Flaggers will be redirecting traffic in the work zone.

Sports [TOP]