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Finance director: county revenue largely on track; EMS collections short of budget target
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Summary
Atchison County’s finance director reported that most tax collections and fund balances are near expected levels for August, but EMS fee collections are at 66% of the $650,000 projection and two appropriations remain to be processed.
Atchison County Finance Director Mark Seltner told commissioners Tuesday that most county revenue streams and cash balances are in line with 2025 budget expectations, though he flagged two pending appropriations and noted EMS collections lag the target.
Seltner said ad valorem (property) tax collections were about $565,000 remaining to collect — roughly 95% collected to date — and that vehicle taxes remaining were a little over $410,000, or about 60% of the annual total. He reported EMS fee collections through July totaled a little over $431,000, or 66% of a $650,000 projection; Seltner said the EMS projection offsets the EMS budget and the county will need to reach the $650,000 figure to avoid a shortfall.
Sales-tax receipts for July totaled $217,264, which the finance director said is higher than average and attributed in part to a large local event (Amelia Fest). He contrasted that with June sales tax of about $170,000. Across all county budgets, Seltner said expenses were at about 61% of budgeted levels, which he described as “right on track” for August; he said levels above 63% would suggest spending too quickly.
Seltner told the board there are two appropriations still awaiting board approval: $40,000 to the health department and $69,002.67 to the extension council. He said his plan is to present a purchase order for those amounts at the September meeting.
On fund balances, Seltner reported the solid-waste fund had about $128,000 and the joint communications dispatch fund had about $133,000; the board earlier transferred money from reserve to keep those funds in positive balance. Seltner said he anticipates it may be prudent to wait until late in the year before moving money back to reserve to avoid repeated transfers.
Seltner also reviewed a series of specialized funds — federal grants and special revenue funds including LATCF, COVID-related funds, SPARC and ARPA — and noted many have zero balances and will be closed in 2025. He said some attorney and sheriff special funds are tied to statutory uses and that the delinquent-tax accounts remain available until outstanding taxes are paid, at which point state statute allows transfers into the general fund.
Commissioners asked several clarifying questions about fund titles and special-state funds (including a state elementary building fund tied to motor-vehicle taxes); Seltner said he would follow up with details on those items.
