COLUMBIANA – Revenues for Shelby County so far this fiscal year are up over the same time period last year and budgeted amounts.

Shelby County Chief Financial Officer Butch Burbage presented a four-month financial review to the Shelby County Commission at its meeting on Monday, Feb. 27, that painted a positive picture of revenues.

In the first four months of the fiscal year, General Fund revenues are up 7.3 percent over last year, $34.5 million compared to $32.2 million.

The category with the largest increase was real property, which went from $12.9 million in Fiscal Year 2016 to $13.5 million in Fiscal Year 2017.

Probate fees were down about $95,000 in the report, the only significant decrease, but it was more than offset by increases in several other categories.

Burbage noted that revenue in the General Fund’s primary categories, such as real property and sales/use fees, are indicators of the county’s economy.

“By all means, we’re seeing the economy going back up again,” Burbage said.

Revenue so far this fiscal year is 0.11 percent above budgeted amounts.

Building permit revenue is up about $136,000 over the budget, while real property is down about $124,000 from the budget.

Most other categories are close to budgeted amounts.

Burbage said the small variance to budget indicates accurate projections, but County Manager Alex Dudchock said the lack of a surplus can be seen as unsettling because a down month or two would put the county behind its budget.

The county’s Highway Fund, meanwhile, at about $9.6 million is up $1.3 million over last year’s revenue mark and up about $255,000, or 2.7 percent from the budgeted amount.

Most other revenue, including water services and environmental services was up over last year and the budgeted amounts.

Dudchock discussed capital expenditure priorities with the commission, including recommendations to reprogram funds to projects to improve the courthouse and adjacent buildings/grounds and for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office to purchase needed vehicles.

Commissioner Lindsey Allison said she thought commissioners needed more time to evaluate the requests, and it was agreed that the Finance Committee, of which Allison is the chairwoman, would make a recommendation to the full commission at its next meeting on March 13.