WILMINGTON — The Clinton County Budget Commission estimates the county will receive $18.79 million in General Fund revenue next year, an increase of about $4.07 million over this year.
The jump is mainly due to additional funds that will be brought in by a re-instated 0.5 percent local sales tax that goes into effect Oct. 1, plus an increase in revenue from the permissive state sales tax.
A good chunk of the projected $4.07 million in added revenue will go to balance the 2020 county budget. During the past three budget appropriations, the county’s coffers were spent down to cover revenue shortfalls vis-à-vis costs. The revenue shortfalls for those annual budgets were, respectively, about $1.9 million, $1.5 million, and $1.9 million.
The Clinton County Budget Commission forecasts the re-instated 0.5 percent local sales tax will generate $2.76 million next year. During the last full calendar year of the 0.5 percent local sales tax before it rolled off the books in September 2016, it generated about $2.8 million.
The Budget Commission estimates the permissive state sales tax will yield $1.39 million more next year than this year.
Clinton County commissioners will soon start work on the county’s 2020 General Fund budget, and will use the revenue estimates in their budgeting. General Fund dollars go toward daily operations of the departments that make up county government.
Reach Gary Huffenberger at 937-556-5768.
