Commissioners Approve County Budget for 2019

The Prowers County Commissioners approved resolutions setting the 2019 budget for 2019 this past Tuesday, December 11^th with the entire county budget at $31,248,779.  The county mill levy at 27.17 mills remains the same from 2018, as will the mill levies for each of the funds receiving property tax revenues.  The total taxable assessed valuation for the county has increased from $130,860,305 last year to $130,897,494, an increase of $37,189.

In their annual budget statement, the commissioners anticipate that the 2019 General Fund expenditures will be $7,756,789. Some of the entities that receive financial support from the General Fund are:  Senior Centers in the County, Prowers and Northeast Prowers Soil Conservation Districts, Holly and Lamar Ambulance Districts, the E911 Dispatch Center and the Sand and Sage Fair as well as the Holly Gateway Fair.  The county has also pledged $50,000 for 2019 to Prowers Economic Prosperity in its mission to support various business developments.

In other action, the commissioners approved the appointment of Faron Williams as Director of Maintenance and Facilities, replacing Kirk Powers, who is retiring, in that position. Licenses and permits for ambulance service for Holly and MedTrans were approved while the Lamar Ambulance Service was tabled.  The Prowers County fairgrounds were reserved for the annual LCC Antelope Stampede, set next year for October 3 – 6.

By Russ Baldwin