The Webster County Board of Supervisors has adopted a $9 million budget with no millage increase for the next fiscal year. A budget hearing was first held before the budget was adopted during a recessed meeting Sept. 9. No other person being present, the budget was briefly presented by the board attorney, according to the minutes. The board then unanimously adopted the 2020-21 county budget as presented by the attorney “after many days of hard work by all,” the minutes state. The budget has total projected revenue of $9.01 million, up from $8.72 million for the current fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30. Budget highlights include a $10,000 increase in funding to $60,000 for The Enterprise of Mississippi, which is the economic development partnership between Webster and Choctaw counties. Executive Director Lara Bowman previously requested the increase, in part, she said, because private dollar support was expected to decrease this year. Total funding for economic development, which includes $1,000 increases each for the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District and the GTPDD Area Agency on Aging, is up 15%. The Sheriff’s Department budget increased 5.11% to $815,125 while that for the jail building remains the same at $41,250. Funding for elections increased 4.44% to $79,975. The budget also includes $40,100 for the Tombigbee Regional Library System and $4,200 for the Webster County Public Library in Eupora. Millage Unchanged In a separate motion, the board adopted the 2020-21 levy sheet as submitted by the chancery clerk. Total millage for county government expenses remains unchanged at 113.81 mills. The tax levy for the General Fund remains at 38 mills. Funds for which millage increased were Reappraisal (+0.63 mills) E-911 System (+0.25 mills) and School 3-Mill Note (+0.20 mills). Funds for which millage decreased were Volunteer Fire (-0.50 mills), School Maintenance (-0.48 mills) and School Shortfall (-0.10 mills), the latter having been paid off after three years. A mill is the amount of tax per one dollar of assessed value. The county’s net assessed valuation (less special homestead) is $65.56 million, down slightly from last year’s $65.69 million. The projected value of a general county mill is $62,282, an increase of $1,807, while that of a school mill is $64,375, an increase of $1,853. Supervisor Doug Burgess (District 5) was unable to attend the meeting in person but participated in two votes by telephone, one being the adoption of the budget and levy sheet.
