Assessment center to be debated

The future of the Williams County Juvenile Assessment Center will be debated at Tuesday's Williams County Commission meeting, and the methamphetamine problem has prompted the shift of extra dollars to the Williams County Social Services and sheriff budgets for 2005.

The public hearing for the 2005 Williams County budget is set for 9 a.m. Sept. 30 at the Commission Room of the Williams County Courthouse.

Commissioner Larry Hanson said the $120,000 needed to run the juvenile assessment center next year is excluded from the 2005 budget proposal. The facility employs two full-time people and numerous part-time workers.

In August, the board gave the center another $20,000 to keep running through the end of the year.

Meanwhile, the commission intends to flatline its mill levy issued to the 2004 levels in next year's budget with a tentative general fund budget of $3,258,232 and $1,560,474 in special agency funds, Hanson said.

"Our main concerns are social services and the sheriff's office," he said. "We had to shift $100,000 increase into social services. That area is getting a lot of pressure." Hanson explained part of the additional money will be used to hire another social worker to ease the case load.

"The sheriff's office also has a lot of pressure. There's maximum occupancy at the jail," Hanson said.

Hanson said $20,000 more will be levied under the sheriff's office budget. "There are more jail costs, fuel costs and patrol costs are hard to (predict)."

Williams County Sheriff Scott Busching agreed that occupancy is maxed out at the jail. while incarcerated, medical needs of inmates must be covered under the jail budget.

A large portion of the high occupancy is due to methamphetamine-related suspects. Many have multiple medical issues, and in recent months that has even meant maternity care.

Hanson said in the future, the county will have to look at a different type of jail facility. Included in the sheriff's office budget are two vehicles as part of a standard purchase rotation for $48,000. This includes a trade-in.

Also included in the 2005 budget is 2 1/2 percent, one-step salary increase for county employees.

Hanson said a mill value increase of $1,100 this year accounts for the dollar amount increase for money levied, even though the mill levy will remain about the same. Tax property revenue will jump about $4,000 due valuation increases.

Also line-itemed is a $50,000 project to resurface the courthouse parking lot.

The budget proposal funds road and bridge for $1,998,493; and Social Welfare, $1,767,577. Some $93,307 has been tentatively funded for the governing board; $167,000 for insurance; $1,860 for district court; $19,460 for court services; $4,760 for juvenile court; auditor, $196,063; treasurer/recorder, $422,375; State's Attorney, $190,111; Tax and Equalization, $287,070; county superintendent, $82,477; victim advocate program, $37,721; building, $151,800; custodian, $62,043; LEC, $124,466; courthouse lunchroom, $1,500; technology coordinator, $201,190; election, $10,000; $12,500 for planning department; $28,300 for industrial development; $7,000 for radio tower.

Under public safety, the sheriff's budget is proposed at $851,915; county jail, $412,729; coroner, $7,000; disaster emergency services, $58,274.

Special agency spending proposed is $50,091; Veterans Service Officer, $69,600; Oasis/FICA, $329,391; advertising, $10,000; county agent, $97,721; weed control, $108,841; correctional center, $42,000; special road levy, $360,280; older person, $55,188; historical society, $17,575; Upper Missouri District Health Unit, $130,105; Upper Missouri Valley Fair, $33,745; water resources, $125,653; weather modification, $94,000; and Garrison Conservancy District, $36,280.