County budget approved and balanced for now

The county budget is balanced for next year - unless the state passes down additional expenses to balance its own budget.

The Yuma County Board of Supervisors approved the 2009-2010 budget Monday with only minor adjustments from the recommended budget.

County Administrator Robert Pickels said the adjustments are not a significant amount, such as two minor corrected errors and an additional grant that was not available when the recommended budget was approved last month.

The 2009-2010 total budget for the county is about $270 million, about a 9 percent decrease from last year.

The new fiscal year begins July 1. And, as of Monday, the state had not yet adopted a budget, and talks between the governor and Republican leaders had broken down. Currently, the state has an estimated $3 billion deficit.

If there are significant changes from the state, the board could hold a special session or the changes could be brought up at the next meeting, July 6, said Kevin Tunell, director of public and legislative affairs.

And it's never too soon to start planning for next year, Pickels said he told county staff last week.

"That's how dire the straits are," he said. "We need to plan that far in advance."

The board also approved a $2.50 writ fee for Yuma County Justice Court. Up until the change, the fee had been $1.

The fee, paid by Arizona's 15 counties, is used to train constables across the state.

Constables deliver court documents throughout the county, and the training helps prepare them for the unexpected, said Constable John J. Nozar of Justice Precinct 1.

"It's a dangerous world, we're forced into situations," he said. "The training (the constables) receive could have a difference in that outcome ..."

The proposed fee was $5, the maximum allowed and comparable to what other counties across the state pay.

After the proposed $5 fee failed in a 2-3 vote, Supervisor Russell McCloud proposed a $2.50 fee, saying that while there is no substitute for training, having the defendant shoulder the responsibility is adding insult to injury.

The $2.50 fee passed unanimously.

The board also set a date for a public hearing to consider the conversion of the newly approved County Improvement District to a Road Improvement Maintenance District. The public hearing is set for the board's next meeting July 6 at 9 a.m.

Also at the meeting, the board approved accepting more than $130,000 from a Help America Vote Act block grant.

The grant will help the county promote education of voters and buy resources such as voting equipment.

The board also approved building a basketball court at Gadsden Park. Pickels previously told the Yuma Sun the project is expected to be completed by the end of summer.

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Stephanie A. Wilken can be reached at swilken@yumasun.com or 539-6857.