Prowers County Sets 2016 Budget

Prowers County Courthouse

The entire Prowers County budget, approved by the Commissioners during their December 8^th meeting, is set at $22,144,145 with no change to the mill levy which remains at 27.17 mills.  The total taxable Assessed Valuation for the County increased from $121,644,714 in 2015 to $126,559,805.

General Fund expenditures for the new year are estimated at $7,050,478 and will cover such areas as the Lamar and Holly Libraries, the E-9-1-1 Dispatch Center, the Senior Centers in Lamar Holly, Wiley and Granada and for the Sand and Safe Fair and the Holly Gateway Fair.

The commissioners are continuing to donate their annual $50,000 contribution to Prowers County Development Incorporated and in conjunction with the economic development organization, are hiring PUMA, Progressive Urban Management Associates to develop an economic assessment for the county. Next year’s budget also includes a 2% pay raise for county employees.  Revenues from the county’s sales tax and use fund are projected at $1,700,000.  Those funds will be used to operate the county jail, capital acquisitions and tax relief.

Other areas anticipated for funding in 2016 include $120,300 which will be used for improvements for the Prowers County Fairgrounds and leverage Conservation Trust Funds towards a grant to finance new shower and bathroom facilities. These have been planned for the past several years to accommodate the increasing numbers of rodeo participants who are hosted by the county each year.  The WPA buildings on East Maple Street will receive new roofing, estimated at $76,640 and the Prowers County Courthouse will undergo some needed renovations which covers a new roof, the courtroom ceiling repairs, sidewalks and parking lot restoration.  The county has applied for several grants to cover the projected cost of $773,240 for those improvements.

The estimated expenditures in the 2016 budget are as follows: