Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — From fighting wildfires to buying vehicles for employees to saving money to buy land for a new courthouse, county departments encountered unexpected expenses in 1999. In response, the Board of County Commissioners voted 2-0 this week to approve $664,200 in supplemental budget requests.

By state statute, counties are allowed to expend unanticipated funds by approving a supplemental budget, according to the county's finance director, Dan Strnad. He said the supplemental requests increased the approved $34.4 million budget for 1999 by 2 percent.

An extremely dry fall in 1999 led to an abnormal amount of fires in Routt County. The board approved a $12,000 supplemental budget request from the Wildland Fire Department to cover additional fire suppression efforts. The funding came from additional sales tax revenues.

Three new vehicles for county employees cost the county $105,000 last year after two sheriff's vehicles reached replacement mileage limits earlier than budgeted. A fair vehicle also had to be replaced after an accident. The money for the vehicles came from motor pool fund balances.

In 1999, the board approved $239,404 to pay for property for a new courthouse. The county bought a lot on Oak Street from Theodore Schrock, Strnad said. The difference was taken from the general fund balance.

A new radio communication system for the county resulted in the need for a $220,000 supplemental budget request, which the board approved. An evaluation of the county's communication system identified the need for testing, upgrading and replacing significant portions of the system.

The building department received $20,700 in supplemental funds from building fees to pay for additional overtime work because of unanticipated growth in inspection services.

The county approved a $12,000 supplemental budget for care for more than expected high-risk juveniles, which will be reimbursed by the state.

The county's weed department purchased more chemicals than budgeted and needed $7,400 to cover the overage. The money came from additional sales tax revenues.

The District Attorney's office needed $6,000 in supplemental monies for witness travel expenses associated with complex trials. Strnad said the state reimbursed the county.

Advertising costs caused the public trustee to request $4,000 after an increase in the volume of foreclosures went beyond the budget. The money came from additional trustee fees.

Health care for inmates at the Routt County Jail cost an additional $5,000 last year. The costs increased during a period of time when the county had no contract with an inmate health care provider. The $5,000 was funded by billing the inmates for the cost of their care.

Recycling fees at the county landfill paid for an unbudgeted coordinator for the regional Household Hazardous Waste Clean Up event. The county paid Alyssa Selby $5,000 to coordinate the recycling event.

The clerk's office received $6,300 in supplemental funding to pay $1,500 for part-time work after an employee unexpectedly resigned and qualified for $4,800 in sick pay.

Maintenance costs at the Routt County Fairgrounds and improvements to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act exceeded the budget by $4,800.

The county used $4,300 in sales tax returns to pay for a rental van for the Council of Aging.

The board approved an additional $1,500 for geographical information system staff to complete a parcel layer map.

The county approved a $200 supplemental budget request from the East Routt Library District for additional trust fee expenses, which was funded by specific ownership tax revenues.

To reach Michellel Bales call 871-4208 or e-mail mbales@amigo.net