Published: September 02, 2009 09:56 am      

County approves $4 million budget

Grady County Commissioners approved a nearly $4.5 million budget Monday for the 2009-2010 Fiscal Year.

Grady County Clerk Sharon Shoemake said the $4,472,139.93 budget is the largest since she’s been in office. It has already been approved by the Grady County Excise Board, pending acceptance from the commissioners.



SMALL STIMULUS

Grady County Treasurer Robin Burton then told the board about a small amount of federal stimulus money received by the governor that is being offered to counties by the Oklahoma Tax Commission.

The funds, which include $713 to the county, $716 to the Canadian Valley Vocational Center and $1,856 to Chickasha Schools, come with two pages of stipulations as to how the money must be spent. For instance, the money must be spent strictly for educational purposes and may not be spent on athletics.

Burton said if the board approves the agreement between the county and the tax commission, the board must oversee the spending of the funds. Also, if the funds are not used correctly, the county must reimburse the tax commission for the amount of misspent money.

“The majority of the counties have sent it back because of the paperwork,” Burton said. “If you sign the agreement, you are accepting the responsibility for how they spend the money.”

The board voted unanimously to reject the agreement, with District No. 3 Commissioner Jack Porter saying, “It’s a liability to the county.”

Burton said the funds will eventually come back to the county in another form.

Commissioners voted to approve Priority List projects to be funded by House Bill 1176, which include a proposed $7 million road project in Ninnekah and another $6.5 million to $8 million Sara Road project in District No. 1.

The Ninnekah project includes two new bridges, asphalt overlays, curbing, gutters and sidewalks as well as the removal of a “Y” intersection to be replaced with a “T” intersection.

“It will be a big change for Ninnekah if it goes through,” Porter said.





Commissioners have turned in applications for a stimulus grant as well as the Priority List for funding of the projects.

The board also approved the application of REAP grants for local fire departments and an item requiring bridge load postings.