News – Monday, January 27th 2025

The Dent County Commission held their 2025 budget hearing Thursday morning at the Dent County Judicial Building. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson presided over the hearing. The General Revenue Fund ended 2024 with net cash available at $2,583,638.27. The estimated revenues for 2025 are $2.505 million dollars while estimated expenses for 2025 are expected to be $2.960 million dollars. This would result in an estimated ending balance of $2,128,313.58 as of December 31st, 2025. Former county commissioner Darrell Skiles questioned the proposed cost of living increase for elected officials without a salary commission meeting in 2024 which is required by state statute to determine an increase, if any. The statute says that without a salary meeting being held, officer’s salaries will be the same as before. The commission said they would check that out and see if the COLA increase based upon previous salary commission meeting minutes is permissible. The Road and Bridge Fund ending cash balance in 2024 was $368,939.36. The commissioners have estimated revenues in 2025 at $3.054 million dollars, and estimated expenses of $3.031 million dollars. This would result in an estimated ending balance of $391,454.36 at the end of 2025. Major expenses will include the road repairs from the November flood of which many will be reimbursed through FEMA, but in what time frame will the money arrive. The Assessment Fund ending balance for 2024 was $110,370.76. The estimated revenues for 2025 came to $237,516.00, and with estimated expenses of $297,327.42, an estimated ending balance at the end of 2025 of $50,559.84 would be expected. The Law Enforcement Sales Tax (LEST) Fund ending balance in 2024 was $889,803.90. With estimate revenues in 2025 expected to be $1.232 million dollars and estimated deductions of $1.410 million dollars, this should leave an estimated ending balance of $711,046.92 at the end of 2025. The 9-1-1 fund had an ending balance of $57,441.13 in 2024. With expected estimated revenues of $35,001 in 2025 and estimated expenses of $45,500, there would be an expected ending balance at the end of 2025 of $46,942.36. The Jail Construction and Operations Fund finished the 2024 year with cash available of $2,442,035.45. The fund is expected to have revenues in 2025 of $2.383 million dollars, and with estimated expenses of $2.674 million dollars, that would leave an estimated ending balance of $2,150,892.19 at the end of 2025. The Jail Construction Trust Fund finished 2024 with an ending balance of $1.672 million dollars. The commissioners estimated revenues of $1.145 million dollars, and with anticipated expenses of $1.360 million dollars, that would leave the fund with a projected ending balance of $1,457,644.37 at the end of 2025. The budget for 2025 was then approved unanimously by the commissioners with the salary increase contingency for the elected officials. The hearing was then adjourned. 

On January 24, 2025, Sheriff Bob Wells and Prosecutor Andrew M. Curley presented a check for the sum of $415.60 to Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams to be placed into the general revenue fund for Dent County. The money is the result of efforts by law enforcement involving the seizure of firearms and prosecution of a James M. Larson for an arrest that occurred on April 30, 2024. James Larson was prosecuted for unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. In addition to the criminal conviction, the seizure is authorized by Missouri law as a punishment and deterrent to persons that commit a criminal offense. This money will be used for the benefit of Dent County Government.

MoDOT has scheduled road work. In Dent County, roadside work is planned for Routes 32 and H. The Route 19 bridge replacement project at Standing Rock Creek continues, with intermittent lane closures expected through May 2025. In Crawford County, Interstate 44 will undergo pavement repairs from mile marker 224 to 214. Route 49 roadside work is planned from Route 19 to Route Y during the same period. In Phelps County, projects include bridge maintenance on Route 63 at Yancy Mills, culvert replacement on Routes H and M, and roadside work on Routes E and CC. Outer Road 44 will see bridge maintenance starting this week until February 7.