YELLOW SHEET Office of the State Auditor of Missouri Claire McCaskill

November 28, 2000

Report No. 2000-119

IMPORTANT:� This report contains information about the ninety-three (93)����� Missouri counties which do not have a county auditor (New Madrid County became second class in 1999).� Using the most recent audit reports, county budgets, and additional outside information, this report has been compiled to show various comparative financial information.

• Counties typically receive and spend a large portion of their receipts to support general county operations and to build and maintain roads and bridges.� For 1999, the median (the middle amount in a series of amounts) county receipts for the General Revenue Fund were approximately $1,198,000 while the median disbursements were approximately $1,166,000.� The median receipts for the Special Road and Bridge Fund were approximately $1,057,000 and approximately $1,085,000 for the median disbursements. More counties are consistently maintaining General Revenue fund receipts at a greater level than disbursements, while fewer counties are consistently maintaining Special Road and Bridge Fund receipts at a greater level than disbursements.���� 

• Sales tax is the main source of receipts for most counties, especially the General Revenue Fund, while intergovernmental revenues, such as federal and state aid, are the main source of receipts for the Special Road and Bridge Fund.

• The report provides information on other major funds.� These funds represent additional sales taxes approved by voters and earmarked for a specific purpose, including capital improvements, law enforcement, and road and bridge work.� Forty-eight of the 93 third class counties have established one or more of these funds.� The overall level of activity of receipts and disbursements and the cash balances in these types of funds has increased.

• New Madrid County which had an assessed valuation exceeding $300,000,000 for five years became second class in January 1999.� A further review of the assessed valuations indicates that several other counties now have or will soon be changing classification from third, to first or second class based on their assessed valuations.

• Maximizing receipts, minimizing disbursements, and improving the overall efficiency of government are crucial to financial conditions of all counties in the future.� Counties must review all sources of receipts to ensure maximum return and timely receipt, and effectively control disbursements.� Large disbursements should be bid to ensure the best product or service is purchased at the lowest cost.� Counties must also strive to improve their overall financial reporting of activity to ensure the total financial condition can be evaluated.� 

• The annual report also contains other comparative financial information, including data on the Assessment Fund, and assessed valuations and tax levies of the counties.� 

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