Commission begins 2025 budget talks

The Howell County Commission began hearings on the 2025 budget last week. During the following work session, the commission discussed budget requests with road and bridge, county clerk, sheriff, and emergency management. The numbers discussed during the work session were not the final, official numbers, as budget discussions will continue this week.

 

The county is expecting to spend over seven million dollars on roads and bridges in 2025. Net cash available for 2025 in the Capital Improvement Sales Tax Fund was $3,226,178.14 and the county is expecting $4,300,100 in incoming sales tax. These, including with interest and other funds total $7,533,778.14 in funding for highways and roads. The north road and bridge department were expecting to receive slightly more funds than the southern road and bridge, primarily due to ongoing projects near the Texas county line. The Special Road and Bridge Fund will bring in an estimated $5,228,194.63 in funding to these departments.

Howell County Sheriff Matt Roberts told the commission he will be attempting to get D.A.R.E. training for some of his deputies in his 2025 budget. Law enforcement for the county is expecting to receive roughly $4,620,000 in sales taxes and a total estimated revenue of $6,130,795.71. The county jail expenditures are expected to be $1,181,474, with Commissioner Calvin Wood noting around $95,000 in grocery costs. Roberts also said they are looking into getting a new jail medical provider and were in the process of working out a deal with the hospital. 

 

Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Coldiron told the commission that emergency management reimbursement has gone down. Coldiron said that his department's mobile command center has been fixed, saying the City of West Plains paid for repairs and they should have enough funding to reimburse the city. 

 

The Howell County Commissioners are Presiding Commissioner Ralph Riggs, Northern Commissioner Calvin Wood, and Southern Commissioner Bruce Williams. The commission meets in regular session on Mondays and Thursdays, from 10 am to 3:30 pm. The meetings remain open during the lunch hour and are open to the public. Contact the commissioners' chamber by phone at (417) 256-3872.