Mason County Fiscal Court adopts $27.8 million budget for 2024–25

The Mason County Fiscal Court voted to adopt Ordinance 24-03, the county’s fiscal year 2024–25 budget, at a special call on June 26, 2024. The court recorded a total budget of $27,823,381.98, which the clerk read into the record, with the General Fund at $9,564,866 and line items including Road ($2,610,358.98), Jail ($1,323,517), Solid Waste ($438,050) and Landfill ($8,338,000).

The presiding officer said the budget rose from about $25 million to roughly $27.8 million, driven in part by a projected $3.2 million in occupational taxes. The court also noted a projected decrease in other revenues of roughly $200,000–$250,000 and cited rising costs for fuel and insurance. The budget includes employee raises averaging about 4% and reflects increased grant funding for local programs including the bridal shelter and support for Cummins Nature Preserve.

Clerk Schumacher conducted a second reading of Ordinance 24-03 before the formal vote. After brief questions from commissioners about insurance and volunteer fire department coverage, a motion to approve the budget was made and seconded. Roll call votes recorded Commissioners McKay, O'Connor, Frame and Judge McNeil all voting "Yes," and the ordinance was adopted.

The court’s adoption follows minor adjustments to principal-and-interest accounting that were made after the first reading. The clerk stated those numeric changes account for a $2,000 reconciliation in principal and interest payments and do not alter total appropriations. The budget document as adopted will be made part of the county records and posted per local practice.

Next steps noted by the court included routine administration tasks related to implementation and monitoring of grant funds referenced in the budget. No further formal amendments were proposed during the special call.