More than $170,000 in general fund spending was cut from the 2014 draft budget by the Coryell County Commissioners' Court on Monday. Commissioners will meet again to continue the effort to cut $200,000 from the budget in order to avoid a tax increase and ensure a 25 percent budget reserve.

Under the draft budget, general fund revenues of $11.7 million are expected, with expenditures of $12.9 million. This scenario led to a $1.2 million deficit and a 23 percent reserve.

Areas which received a budget cut include the road and bridge department, the sheriff, the county clerk, and the district court.

The county road and bridge department gave back $40,000 in budget requests in materials and contact services. Sheriff Johnny Burks agreed to wait six months before hiring two new deputies, saving about $60,000. County Clerk Barbara Simpson shifted her request for software maintenance back into a dedicated fund, saving $18,000, and offered to cut $500 from her proposed travel budget. County Attorney Brandon Belt cut $10,000 from the $33,000 he recommended to fund a visiting judge and court reporter. Commissioners also removed $20,000 in computer maintenance and $25,000 in litigation funding from the budget.

All county employees may experience a decrease in travel budgets.

The proposed 2014 budget will be available at coryellcounty.org and in the county clerk and county judge offices in Gatesville and Copperas Cove beginning August 19.

Public hearings about the 2013-2014 proposed tax rate will be held on August 26 and 30.

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