The Board of County Commissioners is the final authority on spending by county agencies and departments, and the budget is the centerpiece of its local policymaking authority. Through the budget, priorities are established, resources are allocated, and the policy agenda for the ensuing year is determined.
Johnson County's fiscal year runs concurrent with the calendar year. Under the provisions of the Home Rule Charter, the County Manager is responsible for preparing and presenting the annual operating and five-year capital budgets, which are submitted for an extensive review before final consideration by the Board of County Commissioners.
Each budget consists of two principal components.
The first component is the annual operating budget. The operating budget is essentially a plan to finance the operation of the county government. It details estimated revenues and anticipated receipts and describes the proposed appropriations that are required to fund the delivery of services. Additionally, the operating budget includes allocations to cover the costs of interest and repayment for the county government's debt.
The second component is the capital budget, which represents an investment plan for the community's infrastructure, and is presented as part of a five-year program called the Capital Improvement Program, or CIP. The CIP explains proposed capital appropriations for the ensuing fiscal year as well as estimates for the four succeeding fiscal years of the program.
Projects in the capital budget are paid for from three major sources. The first of these sources is known as pay-as-you go financing, which is generally derived from property taxes. Another funding source is debt financing, which occurs through the sale of general obligation and lease-purchase revenue bonds. The proceeds of these bonds are dedicated to the costs associated with ongoing capital projects. The debt owed by the county government on the interest and principal due on outstanding bonds is paid from monies appropriated each year as part of the operating budget, which is referred to as the debt service. Federal, state, and private allotments comprise the third funding source and are usually dedicated to specific purposes, like transportation improvements and environmental protection.
The Budget Process Key Links:
mission of the board
powers & duties
election issues
organization & meetings