Supervisors begin budgetary discussions
Photo: DeSoto County Supervisors hear information at the beginning of Monday’s budget discussions in Hernando. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
DeSoto County Supervisors Monday morning began the tedious task of going through line items with dollar signs as the Fiscal Year 2024 county budget is being formulated.
Supervisors began going through the department requests and administration’s recommendations in the first of what will likely be a number of meetings before a final vote on the budget, which was set for the board meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 5. Prior to the final vote, a public hearing will be held at 9 a.m.
A budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 must, by law, be approved by Sept. 15.
County leaders will be working on a budget of about $350 million with no millage increase, something the county has been able to accomplish for the past 20 consecutive years.
Monday, supervisors were working on the general fund and debt portions of the budget. Debt reduction has been achieved by the county through inflationary and recessionary years, as well as the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic and the board’s accomplishments were praised by County Administrator Vanessa Lynchard.
“You’ve done a great job of reducing debt in the past,” Lynchard told supervisors Monday morning. “It’s a great story, y’all done a great job.”
In other action during Monday’s meeting, board members approved the purchase of two vehicles for the Sheriff’s Department to be used by deputies serving as School Resource Officers, or SROs. There is a need for five vehicles for the deputies assigned to DeSoto County schools, but the purchase of two fits in with the current budget.
Horn Lake Municipal Court will be able to temporarily use the old Justice Court Courtroom in Southaven while the current courtroom in Horn Lake is being renovated, after supervisor approval on Monday. The location fits within the distance limitation for courts outside of a city limits.
Monday’s meeting was attended as an observer by Robert Foster, District 5 Supervisor-elect after his election in Tuesday’s Republican primary election.
