The Farmville Herald

Final Budget Action Delayed

Supervisors Vote To Continue Monthly Appropriations In Buckingham County

The Buckingham County board of supervisors voted to continue to appropriate funds for county uses on a month-to-month basis at the tentative estimated budget calling for expenditures of $680,773 and

Two public hearings, one on, another on the public roads system in the county were held in conjunction with the April 6 meeting.

The supervisors agreed to follow its two-year-old pattern of meeting on the first Monday of each month in order to appropriate money for the coming month. Heads of the several departments in the county were directed to file on or before the regular day fixed for each monthly meeting with the clerk of the board an estimate in writing of the amount of funds needed for that particular month.

Deficit Showing

The proposed budget for the fiscal year commencing July 1 is $31,057 higher than the current year and shows an estimated deficit for the coming year of $14,498. A total of all estimated revenues is expected to cover only $666,275 of the $680,773 budget.

Action on the budget was delayed until the May meeting to allow the board time to appraise measures enacted by the current General Assembly. However, the board did establish a rate of levy at $2.10 per $100 evaluation and merchant's capital at $1.00 per $100 evaluation.

The resolution, made by M. F. LeSueur and seconded by W. A. Pennington, specified that all revenue derived by such levy would be placed in the general fund. The adopted rate of levy provides for no increase in taxes, it being the same as in fiscal year 1958-59.

School Expenditures

A breakdown of the proposed budget shows $591,312 earmarked for school expenditures. This includes $433,052 for instruction costs, $6,600 for capital outlay, and $23,455 for operation of the school plants.

Estimates of revenue for schools from sources other than the county amounts to $392,775, leaving a total to be covered by the county of $273,500.

The assessment of taxable property called for an estimated expenditure of $10,860 in comparison to $3,330 for the current calendar year. The increase here stems from a general reassessment of all real property in the county scheduled to be completed in 1959.

Based on the adopted levy, an estimated $189,000 in revenues will be raised from that source. Other expected county income in addition to the aforementioned school revenues from other than county source include $4,000 from the dog tax; $1,800 as the county's share of the State Capitation Tax; $14,000 from delinquent taxes; $38,500 from the ABC and wine tax; $15,000 from the automobile tax and $10,000 from miscellaneous sources.

Public Roads Hearing

Some 30 residents showed up for the annual public roads hearing. They were told there would be no State Highway Department allocations for construction or additions to the secondary road system in the county during the year.

J. L. Parker, resident engineer for the State Highway Department said repairs, hard-surfacing and other treatment for existing roads would be carried out as funds became available, but no new construction would be undertaken.

Joel W. LeSueur, civil defense director in Buckingham, was authorized by the board to purchase any available surplus equipment that can be obtained for use in the local program through the channels of the Civil Defense Administration.

Hospital Requests Funds

A request that an appropriation for the Southside Community Hospital be included in the county's 1959-60 budget to care for Buckingham charity patients treated at the hospital was made by Joseph H. James, administrator of the hospital. The board took no action, but said it would consider the matter before final adoption of the budget.

In other action, Sheriff H. B. Adams was authorized to have an incinerator constructed on the courthouse grounds. The incinerator would serve as a disposal area for trash accumulated in the various county offices.