Tyler

By ROY MAYNARD
Staff Writer

Smith County commissioners on Monday will continue their work on next year’s budget, even as they continue to deal with the impact rising fuel prices have had on this year’s funds.

Commissioners will hold their regular meeting at 9 a.m., and then a budget workshop at 10:30 a.m. on Monday.

One of their first items of business will be to shuffle funds to cover an estimated $100,000 shortfall in the fuel budget for the current calendar year.

“These budget transfers are necessary because we have gone over budget on fuel this year,” County Judge Joel Baker says. “We face the same challenges in county government as we experience at home regarding the rising gas prices.”

They’ll also continue to chip away at a $2 million shortfall in the working budget for fiscal year 2009.

According to the most recent figures, the estimated revenues for FY 2009 are $65.38 million, while the working budget’s expenditures are at $67.22 million.

“This budget shortfall is an opportunity for the Commissioners Court to demonstrate fiscal responsibility to our taxpayers,” says Commissioner JoAnn Fleming. “Our goal is to absorb increased fuel and road material costs and to fund the second phase of the salary plan for county employees without raising the tax rate.”

Commissioners meet on the first floor of the Smith County Courthouse Annex, 200 E. Ferguson St.

Other items to be considered for approval on Monday include:

Commissioners will receive their regular reports on jail inmate status and on the long range planning action items.