COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PASS FINAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024
 | Author:
Nancy Marks, Reporter
Nancy Marks: MT43 News Secretary and News Editor |
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PASS FINAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024
Nancy Marks
Reporter
During Public Comment House District #64 legislator Jane Gillette from Gallatin County commented that anyone who might have property tax rebates coming to them must sign up with the Department of Revenue.
Governmental Finance specialist Bill Jarocki of Helena was front and center further explaining the 2023-2024 budget for Broadwater County Departments and Boards. Last week Jarocki explained to the department heads and the commissioners how to use the new spreadsheet concept. Use of the “worksheet” he said will help department heads track excessive use of monies. “Over time, the worksheet will show a pattern of experience in order to save money,” he said.
Jarocki reviewed Broadwater County revenues. He pointed out in the worksheet the amounts of federal monies coming to the county and entitlement funds. “These funds, when available, help pay down expenses so running the government does not cost as much in county taxpayer monies,” he said.
The county’s general fund is in good shape because the departments and boards have stayed within their budgets with the help of County Financial Officer Debbie Reynolds.
As an example, he showed the County Health Department worksheet with many different sources of federal and grant monies, even though the department still has a line item for county taxpayer funds. Additionally, he pointed out Payment In Lieu of Taxes(PILT) monies are saved by the commissioners for emergency or special projects during the year. “Last year’s budget revenues were at $ 3.4 million. I see next year coming in at about $ 4 million depending on how much property tax appraisals change in the fastest-growing county in the state,” he pointed out.
The worksheet did not review School District #1 revenues and expenditures since its funds come from the Office of Public Instruction(OPI). They only “pass-through” the County Treasurer’s office, so are not counted in the overall costs of running government offices, Jarocki said.
BOARD APPROVES FINAL BUDGET
Finance Officer Kelly presented the resolution to pass the budget based on the changes made by Senate Bill 332 passed by this year’s legislative session. The modified property tax schedules will be based on house appraisals of $100,000, $300,000 and $600,000, she said. These numbers reflect the dramatic rise in property values in the county. The commissioners voted to adopt the July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024 budget resolution. Commissioner Darrel Folkvord commented balancing this budget was very challenging because the officers had to work off last year's values but still cover this year’s expenses. “This is the first time we’ve used this type of spreadsheet. It was pretty difficult. Next year will be easier, I hope because we will understand it better,” Kelly commented.
Community Development and Planning Director Nichole Brown gave a report on the Reimagining Rural conference held at the Watson Center on June 13. Her take was that we aren’t just a farm and ranch community if we call ourselves “rural,” but that we are not trying to turn Broadwater County into an “urban” center either. “We all need to find our place in the community,” she said.
Commissioner Lyndsey Richtmyer reported the conference emphasized empowering the community to be self-sustaining with help finding grants and using matching funds to fund county needs such as housing and child care.
BROADBAND ADVISORY BOARD REPORT
Commissioner Richtmyer reported on Broadband Advisory Committee activity. The state will have a five-year rollout plan for the $ 629 million allotted to the state by the federal government for broadband installation. “The amount is a lot less than we had hoped for, so winning allocations for Broadwater County will be challenging, even though the county is considered in the “high cost” category.” We are talking to the various broadband companies to see how to get as many houses on high-speed internet as possible before residents must resort to wireless services,” she said.
Richtmyer said the board is trying to get the public involved to build a map of actual broadband services to challenge the state map. It will be decidedly different from the Federal Communications Commission(FCC) map as well. “Broadwater County residents are underserved and unserved when each house has less than 100mg of service. We have the second lowest internet service in the state, behind Wibaux County. This affects our education, our business production and our overall economic health,” she said.
Richtmyer encouraged the public to attend the Broadband Advisory Committee meetings held on the fourth Thursday of each month at the Flynn Building
RENAMING SPOKANE AIRWAY BEACON
Commissioner Folkvord presented a resolution to rename the Spokane Airway Beacon situated on top of Spokane Hill near Winston. It will be renamed Mike Ferguson Beacon. Ferguson who lives at Townsend Municipal Airport has been involved with flying all his life as well as serving on the Montana Board of Aeronautics. Folkvord explained the beacon is historic, from the 1930s when pilots flew their planes with visual flight rules (VFR), they flew “beacon to beacon.” The Commissioners approved the resolution.
