<< Back 6/5/02 Jackson budget holds the line despite state woes SMN Jackson Jackson County Budget Officer Ken Westmoreland said withheld state reimbursements will not affect the county’s operations budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Westmoreland said he was pleased during this time of economic uncertainty to be able to submit a budget that would maintain current levels of service and move the county forward positively. He noted that no county jobs were lost and that no tax increase was required to balance the budget. The county’s capital reserve budget should cover the reimbursements. If the state keeps the county reimbursements, some capital projects may have to be deferred. County commissioners have scheduled a public hearing for 6 p.m. on June 6 in Courtroom One of the Justice & Administration Building to consider the $36.8 million budget and to consider a resolution to implement a one-half cent local option sales tax for 2003-2004 to replace state reimbursements. It is estimated that a sales tax would generate nearly $1 million in revenue for the county. The money would be needed to replace the more than $600,000 lost in state reimbursements. Westmoreland said commissioners supported the half-cent option.