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Effingham County committee lays proposed budget over to full board; seeks data on mental‑health funding request
Summary
Committee laid the proposed fiscal year budget over to the full board for the required public review period, discussed levy changes (general levy up, county health levy increase tied to health insurance costs, liability insurance and Social Security increases) and asked for additional data on a request to increase a mental‑health levy to $200,000.
The Effingham County budget committee voted to lay the proposed fiscal year budget over to the full board and the public for the statutorily required review period, after discussing proposed levy changes and requests from local mental‑health partners.
Deb (county staff) and Josh walked the committee through proposed levy adjustments: an increase shown in the general (corporate) levy, an increase to the county health levy largely to shift county health insurance costs back to the health department, a $44,500 increase for liability insurance and a roughly $22,000 increase for Social Security. Deb described the overall layover numbers as an estimated projected revenue over expenses of $136 for the general fund.
Committee members pressed for more detail on a request related to the 708 mental‑health levy. A committee member asked whether the 708 fund should see an increase to $200,000 to match another levy line; the committee requested running totals and reimbursement history from the organizations that receive 708 funding so the board can evaluate need and how requests would affect other levy increases. Members suggested a full budget overview showing where levy dollars would be reallocated if the committee approves an additional $20,000 to mental‑health programs.
After discussion, Josh moved and Mike seconded a motion to lay the budget over as proposed; the motion passed and the budget will be submitted to the full board for the public 30‑day review. Committee members noted that several numbers remain estimates (assessed value, open‑enrollment participation and liability insurance) and that the layover budget may be slightly adjusted before final adoption.
Ending: The committee forwarded the proposed budget to the full board and asked finance staff to produce a clearer breakout showing how levy shifts would accommodate a potential $20,000 increase to mental‑health funding and to provide historical reimbursement data for 708 fund recipients.
