Emergency Management Commission talks budget

    The Washington Emergency Management Commission discussed budgetary matters at its meeting Thursday night at the Sheriff?s office. Larry Smith, the emergency management coordinator for Washington and Keokuk counties, told the commission that the budget would have to be altered because of unforeseen expenses in Keokuk County. Smith said that he was informed Monday that health insurance costs would rise approximately 29 percent for Keokuk County employees.

    Smith said that the Emergency Management Commission will have to increase its compensation to Keokuk County roughly $1,300 because of the jump in health insurance costs. Smith added that the overall budget will not need to be increased because other items in the budget can be cut. Furthermore, the commission cannot approve a budget that is larger than the one posted prior to the public hearing, which took place Thursday night.

    ?I can make the numbers work, and we won?t need more of an asking,? said Smith. ?We can?t certify a larger budget than what we published. We just have to move stuff around in the line items to make it fit. I was just notified of these numbers on Monday. I?ve been scratching my head for several days.?

    Smith said that the commission will have to decrease the amount of carryover money for fiscal year 2011. He said the commission was already planning to reduce carryover dollars for next year to $39,635. Now that the commission has to pay for an increase in health insurance costs, that number will go down even further.

For the full article, see our Feb. 12 print edition.