While the Craighead County Quorum Court has approved the 2016 budget, some complaints about the budget were made known last night. A budget of just over 30-million dollars was approved last night. Over 16-million dollars is going to county offices and different councils and forces. The remaining budget goes to capital and special revenue funds. The largest expected expenditures from the budget include over seven million dollars going to the county road department, 4.6 million going to the county jail, and 3.5 million going to the county sheriff’s office. All county employees will receive a three-percent raise, while some justices believed it was unfair. Those in opposition felt that those who have been with the county longer should have received larger raises, while those who have not been working as long for the county should have received smaller amounts. The county’s budget runs from January to December, and so far this year, about 820-thouand dollars remain in the county budget for the rest of this year. Over 777-thousand dollars remain for the rest of this year in the county’s roads department. Several justices asked about the possibility of stepping up enforcement of delinquent taxes from businesses and from personal property taxes that have not been paid. A projection of at least a half-million dollars in outstanding delinquencies currently is on the books. Justices say they will explore the possibility to tougher action being taken against those who have fallen behind in paying their taxes.
Craighead County Quorum Court approves 2016 budget
