White County Manager Derick Canupp presented county commissioners with a proposed $31.7 million budget for next year. He called it “lean,” at 3.89% less than this year’s amended budget.
During a commission work session and called meeting on Monday, Canupp laid out the major points in the proposed budget. It includes significant cuts to the Elections and Fire Department budgets. He also pointed out an expected increase in revenue from the Hotel/Motel tax, which is expected to rise from $1.99 million to $2.30 million.
Some unknowns remain, including health insurance costs, the final Enotah Judicial Circuit budget, and funds to fund employee cost-of-living adjustments. The budget may be adjusted in other areas before commissioners give final approval next month.
“White County, we are a lean government,” Canupp said. “We’ve taken out all of the bells, the whistles…really got it down to just the needs.”
He said the budget was scrutinized line by line, and more than half a million was cut from what county departments initially submitted.
The county will hold a public budget hearing on June 2 at 4:30 p.m. A final budget hearing and approval is set for June 16 at 8:30 a.m.
