By Susan Redden

sredden@joplinglobe.com

CARTHAGE, Mo. — Richard Webster, Jasper County auditor, on Tuesday repeated his recommendation that next year’s budget include no allocation for pay raises for county employees.

The comment was part of Webster’s presentation outlining budget proposals for 2009 as part of a public hearing before the County Commission and other officeholders.

Webster cited a drop in sales-tax money received in December “that is the largest I’ve seen since I’ve been here. We don’t know if it’s a fluke or a trend, but regardless, I don’t think we can fund a salary increase at this time.”

He said he would monitor county collections, and that if enough money for raises becomes available, “I’ll recommend them, and I know you’re committed to that.”

The cost of a 3 percent pay hike, the amount approved by the commission in recent years, would be $200,000, he said.

The proposed budget estimates revenue for the general fund, which finances most county operations, at $14.8 million, compared with $14.4 million budgeted for this year. Revenue from the three-eighths-cent sales tax for general revenue is estimated at $5,910,000, reflecting tax totals for this year.

Webster said estimates of fees generated by some county offices also are down, including money collected by the county recorder and the public administrator.

General-fund expenditures are estimated at $15.7 million, compared with $15.4 million this year.

Webster said more than $880,000 in reserve money has been allocated to balance the budget, leaving a balance of $319,000.

The general fund includes allocations for capital projects, including $100,000 for continued repairs to courthouse wiring, $107,000 for a Route 66 museum in the Carthage courthouse and $119,000 for roof repairs. Most of the cost for the work will be funded by insurance or state grants, Webster said.

Sales-tax revenue for the law-enforcement fund is estimated at $4.1 million, including tax proceeds and nearly $200,000 as carry-over money from this year’s proceeds. More than $400,000 is earmarked for specific expenditures, leaving $3.7 million to be spent on items including reimbursements to the general fund for deputies’ pay and benefits, vehicle purchases, and fuel and oil. The county collects a quarter-cent sales tax for law enforcement.

The overall totals differ little from this year’s budget, the auditor said.

Expenditures from the county’s highway fund are estimated at nearly $8.7 million for building and maintaining roads and bridges. Revenue is estimated at the same amount, including $2.1 million in carry-over funds from this year. Expenditures are higher than the $7.4 million allocated for 2008, reflecting costs for bridge projects not finished during the year. The county collects a quarter-cent sales tax for road and bridge projects.