MONROE - The Green County Highway Department was almost $400,000 over budget in 2007 due in large part to the higher-than-expected winter maintenance costs for December.
Green County Highway Commissioner Dallas Cecil told the Green County Finance Committee Tuesday actual costs for December winter maintenance was about $458,000. The five-year average for winter maintenance in December had been about $150,000.
In 2007, using the five-year average for costs for winter maintenance, the highway department budgeted about $520,000. Actual cost for winter maintenance in 2007 was about $1.1 million.
Cecil said cuts were made from some construction projects and administration to reduce the overage and left the department with a deficit of almost $400,000.
However, Cecil said the highway department would pay off the difference from about $975,000 it received from the state and the townships for road work in 2007.
The highway department has continually given money back to the county to offset its general fund since 2002, Cecil added.
Cecil also explained to the county committee the highway department expects to be over its winter maintenance budget by almost $400,000 by the end of 2008, due again to severe winter.
The highway department budgeted $644,000 for 2008 and has already spent about $769,000.
Cecil has plans to reduce costs by making cuts in other areas.
The winter maintenance budget is just one of the many items included in the highway department's overall budget. Included in the overall budget are such things as shoulder maintenance and road shoulder construction as well as painting and sign repairs.
Cecil said he plans to cut back on some of the shoulder work, road painting and sign projects to reduce the budget and expects to be able to use more money received from state and township projects to reduce the overage costs even more.
Cecil said the highway department has always tried to be fiscally responsible.
"We think we're as efficient as we can be," he said.
Cecil also told the committee the highway department expects to receive $34,000 from the state for money spent during the Feb. 5-7 snow storm.
Green County Highway Commissioner Dallas Cecil told the Green County Finance Committee Tuesday actual costs for December winter maintenance was about $458,000. The five-year average for winter maintenance in December had been about $150,000.
In 2007, using the five-year average for costs for winter maintenance, the highway department budgeted about $520,000. Actual cost for winter maintenance in 2007 was about $1.1 million.
Cecil said cuts were made from some construction projects and administration to reduce the overage and left the department with a deficit of almost $400,000.
However, Cecil said the highway department would pay off the difference from about $975,000 it received from the state and the townships for road work in 2007.
The highway department has continually given money back to the county to offset its general fund since 2002, Cecil added.
Cecil also explained to the county committee the highway department expects to be over its winter maintenance budget by almost $400,000 by the end of 2008, due again to severe winter.
The highway department budgeted $644,000 for 2008 and has already spent about $769,000.
Cecil has plans to reduce costs by making cuts in other areas.
The winter maintenance budget is just one of the many items included in the highway department's overall budget. Included in the overall budget are such things as shoulder maintenance and road shoulder construction as well as painting and sign repairs.
Cecil said he plans to cut back on some of the shoulder work, road painting and sign projects to reduce the budget and expects to be able to use more money received from state and township projects to reduce the overage costs even more.
Cecil said the highway department has always tried to be fiscally responsible.
"We think we're as efficient as we can be," he said.
Cecil also told the committee the highway department expects to receive $34,000 from the state for money spent during the Feb. 5-7 snow storm.