By John Howell

Panola supervisors, during a public hearing on Monday, voted to adopt the 2016 budget and adopted the tax levy to fund it.

Supervisors approved a $36.4 million budget that includes anticipated revenue of $20.3 million against expenditures of $23 million. The balance comes from beginning cash of $13.8 million plus $2.3 million from other cash sources.

A total of $13.3 million or 66 percent is expected to be raised by property tax. Of that amount raised in the North Panola School District, 50 percent goes to the schools and 50 percent to the county. Millage for property in the North Panola District was set at 57.60.

In the South Panola School District, 47 percent goes to the schools and 53 percent to the county. Millage in the South Panola District was set at 66.10.

Additional revenue sources are other local taxes, including licenses and fees, fines and forfeitures, charges for services, $4.5 million. Taxes from state sources provide  $1.8 million revenue and federal sources $.5 million.

Public works, including roads and bridges, the airport and solid waste claim $8.7 million or 38 percent of county expenditures for fiscal 2016. Public safety, including the sheriff’s department, jail, Civil Defense, constables and National Guard, is the next largest expense category in the budget at $6.9 million or 30 percent.

General government claims $3.4 million or 15 percent, debt service $1.9 million or eight percent and courts $1.4 million or six percent.

Health and other includes conservation of natural resources, economic development and assistance, health and welfare and is budgeted for $.7 million or three percent.

J. Q. Green was the only member of the public to attend the budget meeting. Supervisors also set millage for six drainage districts in the county.