The Fayette County Commission started budget deliberations Monday and will have to figure out the answers to some tough questions before the budget gets final approval in June.

Finance director Mary Holland told the County Commission the proposed $50.1 million general fund budget is about 1.5 percent more than last year’s budget. The budget includes funding for an additional 26 full-time and five part time positions and includes a 3.3 percent cost of living increase for existing employees.

But Holland pointed out that last year’s general fund budget was $3.6 million in transfers for capital and capital improvement projects. Those projects are not included in this year’s budget and total 4.5 million.

When all the county’s budgets are combined, including enterprise funds such as water and solid waste, the expenditures total $79 million, but only $75 million is expected in revenues.

Interim County Administrator Jack Krakeel explained the county only grew by 3 percent, which is causing the budget crunch.

“We did calculate a rollback of the millage rate in this budget, but we’re not recommending it,” he said.

Holland said eliminating the rollback would provide an additional $570,00 in the general fund and $228,000 in the fire fund.

She added that the finance staff focused on slashing departmental budgets which cut $1.16 million from the original requests.

She closed her presentation with an ominous statement.

“Further budget adjustments may be necessary in order for the county to balance this year’s budget and to minimize the need for present and future cash depletion,” Holland said.

The county concludes its budget discussions tomorrow in an all-day session at the Administrative Complex on Stonewall Avenue.

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