Crawford County grants addition election commission, assessor office funding

The Crawford County Quorum Court on Monday (Oct. 20) approved appropriation reallocation requests for the Election Commission and the assessor's office.

The Election Commission's original request for $62,600 was revised to $40,000 after Budget Committee Chair Mary Jan Blount said the general fund would not have the necessary funds to fulfill the request.

Election Commissioner Bill Taylor said $40,000 would get the commission through November's general election, but he said it was possible a runoff would be necessary and additional funding would be requested.

When the 2014 budget was approved, the Quorum Court had taken more than $60,000 in expected revenues for the commission and directed it to the general fund in order to make the budget balance for the year, which lead to the commission's request Monday for the additional funds in order to cover costs with the election. Early voting for the general election began Monday.

County Judge John Hall said a similar situation would not occur with the upcoming 2015 budget due to problems the budgeting maneuver caused this year.

The appropriations ordinance for the assessor's office would move $6,892 to Assessor Ronnie Dale's office to cover a GIS surveying contract. He said the survey had already found properties that will contribute an additional $51,000 in new tax revenues next year and could add even more once all surveys are complete.

Budget meetings for the 2015 budget were also announced Monday for the Crawford County Quorum Court. The meetings are slated for Oct. 27 and 30 and Nov. 6 and 10. All meetings will take place at 6 p.m. at the Circuit Courtroom #2, 220 South 4th Street in Van Buren.