Key Terms:

General Fund - This fund is used to account for all revenues and expenditures that are not accounted for in other funds. It is the largest fund and is considered the general operating fund of the County. There are 61 departments or activities including the Courts, Treasurer, Register of Deeds, Building Maintenance, Sheriff, Jail, Elections, Clerk, and Property Description. It also makes appropriations to other specific Funds.

Mill - The property tax rate that is based on valuation of property. A tax rate of one mill produces one dollar of taxes on each $1,000 of taxable property value.

Fiscal Year - Represents a 12-month period of time for which the County's accounts are reported. The calendar year ended December 31 is our fiscal year.

Fund - A Fund is a fiscal and accounting structure with a self-balancing set of accounts that stands alone for the purpose of carrying on specific activities or attaining certain objectives in accordance with specific regulations, restrictions or limitations.

The Budget Process:
The process starts in mid-summer of the year prior to the fiscal year with the various County departments submitting their requests for funding to the Finance Department. The Deputy Controller reviews the documents, sends all requests for personnel to the Human Resources Department for review and recommendation, organizes the budget requests for review, and prepares or reviews revenue projections. A Budget Committee, made up of department heads, scrutinizes the requests and submits a balanced budget to the Administrator/Controller for his review.

In October the Administrator/Controller submits a proposed budget to the Board of Commissioners for their consideration. The Board then holds workshops and a public hearing, and finally adopts the budget, usually in late November or early December for the next fiscal year. State law requires the budgets be adopted prior to the start of the fiscal year.

Revenue Sources

2003 Budget Highlights:

Revenues:
1. The State Taxable Value of our County increased 6.3% over 2002, from $4.8 billion to $5.1 billion. This valuation will generate approximately $26.7 million in General Fund property tax revenues in 2003. Special millages will generate another $8.8 million for their specific services.

The General Operating millage rate is authorized at 5.77 mills, but has been reduced over time due to the effects of the Headlee Amendment. The specially voted millage rates have also been reduced.

2. General operating State shared revenues have been decreased by the State by 3.5% under the 2003 originally approved amounts. This adjustment is due to State mandated reductions in support of local government.

3. Total general operating revenues have increased 3.9% over 2002.

Expenditures:
1. The County continues to develop and invest in the three foundational areas of human capital, corporate initiatives and capital/technology assets. The 2003 budgets include allowances for greater investment in technology to focus on the efficiency of staff and ease of access for the Citizens of the County. We are also investing in new staff positions that support current services which are directly impacted by the growth in the County.

2. Total general operating expenditures have increased 3.9% over 2002.

Board of Commissioners - 2003/2004