Commission's proposed county budget released

The Platte County Commission released its recommended budget Tuesday, Jan. 19 just before its regular administrative session held at the Platte County Resource Center near KCI Airport.

Auditor Kevin Robinson noted the budget documents were released on the county website at co.platte.mo.us that morning and requested a public hearing on the budget be scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 29 at the resource center.

Later Tuesday, commissioners released their own letter to citizens regarding the budget. The letter highlighted portions of the budget including revenues, the new law enforcement tax and the renewed parks sales tax, employee benefits, Zona Rosa bond litigation and the impact of federal CARES Act funds.

“The county’s combined sales and use tax revenues for discretionary spending is budgeted at $13,973,558,” commissioners wrote. “This is approximately 2.2% less than the 2020 fiscal year-end actual collections of $14,274,710. By comparison, in 2020, the sales and use tax revenue for 2020 was relatively flat compared to 2019 collections, down 0.37%. Due to the uncertainty of continued restrictions and/or shutdowns (Due to COVID), reasonable but conservative calculations were used to determine revenue figures for 2021.”

Use tax collections fluctuated throughout the year, affected by the pandemic and tax filing suspensions by the state.

County employees will receive a two percent wage increase, with the exception of officeholders, who operate on a different compensation system. The proposed budget also includes wage “decompressions” at the Platte County Sheriff’s Office, making up for wage losses in the sheriff’s prosecutor’s offices over the past decade.

Also at the meeting, commissioners approved bid awards with Hayes Company and St. Joseph Plumbing and Heating to replace ductwork and insulation in the Platte County Courthouse. Last year, the prosecutor’s office relocated to the administration building – dislodging the commissioners from their regular meeting room – to investigate air quality concerns on the third floor of the historic courthouse building. Traces of fiberglass were found in the air of the building late last year.