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County officials are busy refining numbers for the upcoming fiscal year's budget, a process that began late last year and ends with a new budget in May.
Expansion of government driven by growth, along with the accompanying revenue from new residents and businesses, characterize a spending plan that Churchill County Comptroller Alan Kalt describes as healthy amid a growing local economy.
County departments presented requests at hearings in February, and a presentation was made to county commissioners March 24. Fiscal year 2007 runs from July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007.
Projected revenues to the county's general fund are $15.519 million, with expenses pegged at $16.292 million. Kalt said other funds may be utilized to account for additions of personnel, equipment and other resources in the coming year.
The county intentionally gives a conservative estimate for revenue to allow for breathing room at year's end, he said. The general fund's revenues are projected to slightly exceed expenditures in the current fiscal year, according to information provided by the county comptroller's office.
"We try to come in with a balance budget," he said.
Major proposed expenditures include two brush trucks for the Fallon-Churchill Volunteer Fire Department, which were approved last year, a modular restroom facility for Churchill County Parks and Recreation and donations of $25,000 each to the Churchill County Museum and Churchill County Library for building remodeling or expansion.
Continued work on the county's water and sewer system will also drive budget numbers, as well as provide a source of revenue when the utilities are up and running.
Several proposed personnel changes are planned, including the addition of a sheriff's department dispatcher, a facilities and grounds maintenance aide, a road maintenance worker, a part-time custodian as of Jan. 1, 2007 and expansion of three positions from part-time to full-time.
Double-digit increases in consolidated tax, which includes taxable sales and liquor and cigarette taxes, are also considered. The state's projection for the county's distribution in FY2007 is $7.212 million. The county is projecting $6.583 million. Kalt said the county's estimate is low due to several recent one-time expenditures in the local economy such as construction of the Wal-Mart Supercenter, $10 million in geothermal expansion and a spike in new car sales.
"It's not prudent for us to base a budget on significant, one-time expansions," Kalt said.
Concerning a property tax rate for the next fiscal year, no figure has yet been determined, Kalt said. From fiscal years 2005 to 2006, property taxes increased 1 cent per $100 of assessed value in the county due to a voter-approved initiative to fund improvements to the Churchill County Senior Center.
In 2005, the Nevada State Legislature approved a cap on property taxes, limiting a tax increase to not more than 3 percent from the previous year's tax for owner-occupied primary residences. Increases in property tax rates will primarily affect those with new homes, Kalt said.
Local property tax rates for the current fiscal year are $2.745 per $100 of assessed value for county residents and $3.5521 for city residents.
County Manager Brad Goetsch said department managers are encouraged to communicate their needs with each other to gain a broader understanding of the county's needs.
"Once they get a picture of what everybody else's needs are, it really puts their wants in perspective," he said.
Churchill County has gained a reputation as conservative regarding expenses and property tax increases, Goetsch said. The county's intent, through impact fees, has been for to shoulder the burden for more services upon residents moving to the area and building new homes, he said. However, a property tax increase is still possible.
"If they (residents) want more services and broader services, there'll have to be ways to pay for that. That property tax rate is still available," Goetsch added.
The tentative budget will be submitted to the Nevada Department of Taxation this month. A public tax rate hearing will be held in mid-May before a final budget is approved.
Expansion of government driven by growth, along with the accompanying revenue from new residents and businesses, characterize a spending plan that Churchill County Comptroller Alan Kalt describes as healthy amid a growing local economy.
County departments presented requests at hearings in February, and a presentation was made to county commissioners March 24. Fiscal year 2007 runs from July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007.
Projected revenues to the county's general fund are $15.519 million, with expenses pegged at $16.292 million. Kalt said other funds may be utilized to account for additions of personnel, equipment and other resources in the coming year.
The county intentionally gives a conservative estimate for revenue to allow for breathing room at year's end, he said. The general fund's revenues are projected to slightly exceed expenditures in the current fiscal year, according to information provided by the county comptroller's office.
"We try to come in with a balance budget," he said.
Major proposed expenditures include two brush trucks for the Fallon-Churchill Volunteer Fire Department, which were approved last year, a modular restroom facility for Churchill County Parks and Recreation and donations of $25,000 each to the Churchill County Museum and Churchill County Library for building remodeling or expansion.
Continued work on the county's water and sewer system will also drive budget numbers, as well as provide a source of revenue when the utilities are up and running.
Several proposed personnel changes are planned, including the addition of a sheriff's department dispatcher, a facilities and grounds maintenance aide, a road maintenance worker, a part-time custodian as of Jan. 1, 2007 and expansion of three positions from part-time to full-time.
Double-digit increases in consolidated tax, which includes taxable sales and liquor and cigarette taxes, are also considered. The state's projection for the county's distribution in FY2007 is $7.212 million. The county is projecting $6.583 million. Kalt said the county's estimate is low due to several recent one-time expenditures in the local economy such as construction of the Wal-Mart Supercenter, $10 million in geothermal expansion and a spike in new car sales.
"It's not prudent for us to base a budget on significant, one-time expansions," Kalt said.
Concerning a property tax rate for the next fiscal year, no figure has yet been determined, Kalt said. From fiscal years 2005 to 2006, property taxes increased 1 cent per $100 of assessed value in the county due to a voter-approved initiative to fund improvements to the Churchill County Senior Center.
In 2005, the Nevada State Legislature approved a cap on property taxes, limiting a tax increase to not more than 3 percent from the previous year's tax for owner-occupied primary residences. Increases in property tax rates will primarily affect those with new homes, Kalt said.
Local property tax rates for the current fiscal year are $2.745 per $100 of assessed value for county residents and $3.5521 for city residents.
County Manager Brad Goetsch said department managers are encouraged to communicate their needs with each other to gain a broader understanding of the county's needs.
"Once they get a picture of what everybody else's needs are, it really puts their wants in perspective," he said.
Churchill County has gained a reputation as conservative regarding expenses and property tax increases, Goetsch said. The county's intent, through impact fees, has been for to shoulder the burden for more services upon residents moving to the area and building new homes, he said. However, a property tax increase is still possible.
"If they (residents) want more services and broader services, there'll have to be ways to pay for that. That property tax rate is still available," Goetsch added.
The tentative budget will be submitted to the Nevada Department of Taxation this month. A public tax rate hearing will be held in mid-May before a final budget is approved.
