MOUNT VERNON — The 2012 budget and appropriations request for the Knox County Soil & Water Conservation District was reviewed with the Knox County Board of Commissioners on Thursday afternoon. SWCD program administrator Rob Clendening made his annual financial request to the board, which was the same for the third year in a row at $147,413. Attending with Clendening were staff members David Mitchem, Jim Braddock and Tom Purdy.
This year’s proposed budget stands at $297,873, up $15,000 over last year. Line item increases for 2012 were for salaries (which haven’t increased since January 2009), insurance, contract services for information technology, and equipment which includes a truck replacement. Clendening explained that the SWCD annual revenue is comprised of county funds, state matching funds and a Division of Wildlife grant.
The projected 2012 revenue would fall $23,652 below the appropriations presented. “There are accumulated state reserve funds that will carry over and make up the difference,” said Clendening.
The Knox County Prosecutor’s Office also had its preliminary budget hearing with the commissioners.


