The most recent version of the proposed Grand County budget for 2010 survived another round of public hearings this week with little comment from either the public or council members.

At $8,555,421 the proposed 2010 portion of county expenditures and taxes that the council controls is down slightly from the version the council presented to the public last month, according to Grand County Clerk Diana Carrol.

The council has no control over taxes collected for the Grand County School District, or any other special service district that has taxing powers.

General property taxes collected by the county for its general fund are set at $2 million by the proposed budget. This is exactly the same as for 2009.

State law requires local governments to adjust tax rates so that they cannot collect more in property taxes without going through a public process, Carroll said.

Because property tax revenues remain the same as last year and most other sources of revenues have dropped slightly because of the national recession, the county must draw $873,992 from its general fund balance– the so-called “rainy day” fund – in order to balance the budget for next year, Carroll said.

The $8.6 million budget for 2010 is 4 percent higher than the final budget approved for 2009.

Council members expressed no discomfort with the proposal to draw from the general fund because more than $1.1 million will remain in that fund after the draw-down, according to figures provided to the council by Carroll.

Carroll also said that county will not have to borrow “tax anticipation” money because she expects revenues to come in soon enough to cover expenses as they occur.

“That saves a lot of interest expense,” Carroll said.

The Grand County Road Department will receive $100,000 from the general fund balance and the Capital Project Fund will receive $200,000.

“The capital project fund will allow for the purchase of five fully equipped vehicles for the sheriff’s office, a sweeper for the airport, a copier if needed in the recorder’s office, anticipated costs of developing Matrimony Spring, along with any unfunded portion of a shop/storage building at the airport,” Carroll said.

Council chairman Bob Greenberg made sure that the proposed budget includes $62,000 to cover the county’s share of Moab city’s Mill Creek Drive project.

“All I ask is that we put as much money as we can for snip and spay,” said county resident Barbara Hicks during the public hearing. She said for 2009 the county paid only $6,000 to cover expenses of animal control, while efforts to save abandoned animals and get them adopted cost the Humane Society $60,000.

“Snip and spay” is the best way to control surplus animal populations and cut the costs of caring for strays, Hicks said.

Law enforcement and prosecution remain not only the largest portions of the county budget, but also showed the most significant increases.

Budgets for the Grand County Council Administrator and the airport actually dropped from 2009. But planning and zoning will cost an additional $76,000 because a contract is in the works to update the county’s general plan.

Public health expenses will rise 52 percent, to $161,000, under the new budget. Expenses for the Old Spanish Trail Arena are budget to rise 19 percent, to $233,000.

The public hearing on the propose budget is now closed. Written comments will be accepted until Dec. 9. The final budget will approve on Dec. 15, according to state law.

Budget documents are available in the county clerk’s office.