Total includes $4 million in ARPA funds & ’23 carryover

by Kate Shunney

The Morgan County Commissioners on Wednesday, March 15 voted to approve a budget for the county for the 2024 fiscal year, which begins July 1 and continues through June 30, 2024.

A total budget, in the amount of $12,723,157, was approved 3-0, with Commissioner Joel Tuttle attending the meeting remotely.

County officials pointed out that the final budget figure includes $2.95 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds from the federal government, and $1.2 million in carryover from the county’s 2023 fiscal year budget. Some of the carryover funds were earmarked to balance the 2024 budget.

Commissioners approved the individual budgets for each county office. The operating budget, minus ARPA funds and carryover, was finalized at $8,647,969.

County revenue from property tax is estimated at $4,321,316, based on an unchanged levy rate. Morgan County officials say they expect to see a gain of $203,628 in tax revenue because property values rose over last year.

Other sources of revenue include prior year taxes, rent from county-owned buildings, gaming and video lottery income, franchise fees, property transfer tax, Hotel/Motel tax and other county fees.

County officials must submit their budget to the state for final approval.