County resolves budget shortage, approves 2023-24 budget

After weeks of work by Randolph County commissioners, Randolph County CFO Travis Heard and all department heads, the commission approved the budget for 2023-2024 at Monday’s meeting. It was announced a couple of meetings ago, the county would be over a million dollars in the hole, but the new budget shows a surplus amount in the county’s general fund at the end of the fiscal year. Heard said in the budget that it should be understood that all funds are earmarked for specific uses, therefore all expenditures from each fund must comply with the uses set forth in the 1975 Code of Alabama.

In summary, the expected revenues are $15,096,679 with estimated expenses of $16,224,745, which represents the $1 million-plus budget shortfall. However, over $1.2 million worth of gas tax funded road projects that will be completed and paid in the 2023-24 fiscal year and are shown on that year’s budget will actually be paid with funds left over from the 2022-23 fiscal year. That will leave the county an $87,851 surplus at the end of the upcoming fiscal year.

According to Heard, money brought forward from the previous year cannot be shown as revenue on the current year, hence the technical shortage on this year’s budget.

Over one third (38.3 percent) of the overall budgeted expenditures are for highways and roads, and over 27 percent is earmarked for public safety. Debt service, general government and miscellaneous follow behind.

Each commissioner praised Mr. Heard and the department heads for the hard work they did on the budget.

In other business, the commission:

Tabled an appointment to the healthcare authority from district 2.

Reappointed Stacy Richardson to the healthcare authority from district 3.

Approved moving the October 9 meeting to October due to the Columbus Day holiday.

Awarded each annual bid item to accept the engineer’s recommendation.

Appointed Terry Wiley to the economic development authority from district 1.

Announced the courthouse and annexes would be closed Monday, October 9 for Columbus Day.

Heard a report from Sheriff David Cofield there were 84 inmates in the county jail, 73 male and 11 female.