Coahoma County started their budget process this year with $31.60 of unencumbered cash.
Supervisors have hammered out a budget spending $9.3 million for the 2020-21 fiscal year with a drop in gaming revenue, big cuts in the sheriff’s budget and a new levy for the Coahoma County Economic Development Authority.
Revenue from the casino in Lula dried up in March with the coronavirus shutting down the tourism/gaming industry in Coahoma County. Supervisors project a revenue drop from $2.1 million in 2019-20 to roughly $1 million this fiscal year.
The Sheriff’s Department will see a $142,297 cut as their budget goes from $3,741,004 last year to $2,304,632 this year.
Supervisors also cut the Jail budget from $28,869, but moving into the new Justice Center on Desoto should help cut expenses.
The county has also proposed a new 1 mill levy for EDA that will finance economic development and stabilize EDA’s budget from year to year.
The county’s overall budget did increase from $8,742,794 in 2019-20, or an increase of $569,859 for the upcoming year.
The county is also proposing a 4 mill tax increase this year. One mill raises approximately $100,000 for the county.
The county also cut most department budgets, but consolidated the purchase of computers, phones, internet services and data contracts under the supervisors and county administrator’s budget in an effort to see economy of scale when purchaing those items.
The county will hold a public hearing on the budget later this month and formally adopt the budget in September.
