While Buchanan County’s revenue numbers continue to generate considerable worry around the courthouse, its expenditure figures should soften the blow — at least for now.

The county’s officeholders met Thursday to go over their expenditures and revenue at the two-thirds point of the year, and only the Children’s Academy, planning and zoning, road and bridge and the Sheriff’s Department are over budget to this point. Carolyn Mueller, the director of planning and zoning, will retire at the end of this month, and the county won’t replace her, evening out that portion of the budget. Road and bridge does most of its repairs and maintenance during the summer, accounting for its spending disparity.

Sheriff Mike Strong did not immediately return comment Monday afternoon in regard to his department’s expenditures.

“We’re pretty much on budget,” Presiding Commissioner R.T. Turner said. “Revenues are down in a couple of places, and we are checking on those to see if there is a reason for that.”

Mr. Turner said the anticipated revenue from the county’s geographic information systems still could come in and meet expectations. The prospect for making up the sales tax isn’t so rosy.

Through August, the county sales tax revenue is down $313,547 from last year. The county, as mandated by state law, has an emergency fund of $441,911 in this year’s budget. But it usually rolls over most or all of that money into the emergency fund for next year. If the revenue shortfall eats up the majority of that fund in 2009, the county will be in some tough financial straits come 2010.

County chooses insurance broker

The County Commission chose Power Group, based in Overland Park, Kan., to broker its health and dental insurance contracts for the upcoming year.

The commission received six bids from brokers, made its decision at the end of last week and met with Power Group representatives Monday morning. The county spent $1.9 million on its employees’ health and dental insurance in 2008 and is on track to pay a little more than $2 million this year.

CBIZ brokered the county’s insurance the past two years and received $24,807 for its services in 2009. Power Group will make no more than $28,000 a year from the county, and that number is based on commission. So if the county chooses a cheaper deal, that figure could drop.

Mr. Turner said he expected the insurance figures the three finalists would’ve brought back for the county to be about the same. The commission chose Power Group because of its wellness program, which promotes preventative health. Power Group also works for Missouri Western.

It will turn in its insurance bids to the commission on Oct. 19.

The county’s contract with Power Group runs for three years, and each side has an annual opt-out option.

4 bids received from brokers

The commission received four bids from property and casualty insurance brokers last week and plans to pick one in the next week or so.

The county spent $125,216 on building insurance and $241,663 on liability insurance in 2009. CBIZ handled the county’s property and casualty insurance in 2009 and was among the bidders this time around.

Nov. 3 absentee ballots available

Residents who want to vote absentee in the Nov. 3 election for the St. Joseph School District issue now can do so at the County Clerk’s office in Room 121 of the Buchanan County courthouse.

The clerk’s office sent absentee requests to voters on its permanent list and will mail out ballots today to those who turned in applications.

For more information, call 271-1416 or visit www.buchcomovotes.com.

Town hall meeting set for Oct. 22

The county commission will host a town hall meeting on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. at the Maxwell Heights Presbyterian Church in the Western District.

The church sits on Maxwell Road, just off of St. Joseph Avenue in between Karnes and Cook roads.

R.J. Cooper can be reached at rjcooper@npgco.com.