St. Clair County will opperate off a $33 million budget over the next year.

Commission Chairman Stan Batemon said the budget looks good for the next year, but questioned what the future will hold.

Batemon said that county departments were asked to slash 5 percent of their budget requests for FY2010-11.

Though the budget was balanced this year, the commission cautioned against maintaining current levels over the next two years.

The county must maintain a 20 percent fund balance each year, Batemon said. Last year it had a 30 percent balance and in years past it has been as high as 50 percent, he said.

The new budget does not include a cost of living increase for employees and officials, but step raises, pay grade adjustments and longevity pay are included for eligible employees.

He said that the reason St. Clair is able to maintain during the recession is due to economic development and having strong industry to help support the county’s tax base.

The county expects to bring in just under $15 million over the next year.

The total debts for the next year are $1.95 million, approximately seven percent of the county’s total budget.

Ongoing cost increases, such as health care that are eating away at the yearly budgets, Batemon said.

But despite the continued downturn in the economy and tighter budget contraints than ever, county employees will continue to receive 100 percent funded health insurance through the county. There was a 8.75 percent increase in health and dental insurance rates for the county over the last year.

Decreases in this year’s budget included:

* 7% for the county commission for expendatures and a voluntary 5% decrease from its budget

* 29% decrease in courtroom security for two part-time security officers

* 6% decrease (voluntarily) from Probate Judge budget

* 32% decrease in flood management due to fewer elevation certificates being issued over the next year.

* 17% decrease in Board of Registrars for less postage and supplies.

Increases included:

* 3% for the Revenue Commissioner due to retirees’ health insurance increases

* 8% increase in Courthouse/Facilities maintenance due to Ashville’s courthouse renovations

* 5% increase in Sheriff’s Office due to purchase of vehicles and addition of one new deputy.

* 4% Jail Fund increase due to employee reclassification and retiree insurance increases.

Chairman Batemon expressed the county’s need to maintain insurance costs over the next three years.

“We are literally scared to death as a commission as to what the national health care initiative will do to our health care,” Batemon said.

 The county, he said, will most likely be able to pay for its employees full benefits for the next year, but two years out things may change.