Budget situation in Charles City may not be as bleak

Charles City’s budget picture may not be as gloomy as first thought, but county officials still expect to be making budget cuts this fiscal year to offset an estimated deficit now pegged at $300,000.

County administrator Jack Miniclier delivered the news to Board of Supervisors members during the group’s Oct. 26 meeting. The anticipated revenue shortfall, brought about by declining dollars from Waste Management’s landfill in the county, stood at $1.2 million in August. But recently, trash amounts have picked up thus lowering the estimated deficit.

“We’re being optimistic Waste Management will provide us with the minimum amount of funds as they have done the past two months,” Miniclier told supervisors.

Under the county’s contract with the company, a minimum of 2,000 tons per day, depending on economic conditions, is to be dumped in the landfill. In August, amounts were averaging 1,500 tons with no increase expected.

“The last two months, Waste Management has met the minimum requirement,” Miniclier said afterward. “If they continue to meet the minimum, we’ll only be $300,000 short by the end of the [fiscal] year [next June 30].”

The recent trash amount increases are a bit of welcome relief for county officials, but they must now deal with the $300,000 figure. Miniclier said that under county policy, county offices and schools split the amount evenly, meaning each entity must come up with $150,000 in budget cuts.

All offices, including schools, have been asked to submit cuts in time for the Board of Supervisors’ next regular meeting on Nov. 23.

“Our goal is not to cut people or furlough them,” Miniclier told the board.

Supervisors, meanwhile, plan to meet with county School Board members on budget matters and other issues. A committee from both boards has already met and is looking at where collaboration and consolidation can take place, such as with information technology.

A meeting of all members from both boards is tentatively set for Dec. 1 at 6 p.m., coinciding with supervisors’ quarterly work session.

“I don’t have any problem sitting down with [the School Board] one time, two times or three times as long as we discuss issues,” said District 1 Supervisor Gilbert Smith. “It’s something that needs to be done.”

In other business last week, supervisors approved the county’s water supply plan that is being forwarded to the state Department of Environmental Quality. Localities, including Charles City, were required to file plans before a Nov. 2 deadline.

The plan outlines Charles City’s current water sources and use as well as anticipated needs for the next 50 years. For now, most county residents and businesses are served by private wells that tap into groundwater. Potential future water sources listed in the plan include surface solutions as well as forging agreements with neighboring localities.

The plan is not set in stone and is subject to updating locally every five years. DEQ plans to review the document every 10 years.