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Greene County hires new budget officer

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As Greene County embarks on its $117.5 million budget plan for 2015, it will have a new county budget officer behind the wheel.

The Greene County Commission appointed Jeff Scott to the position, effective March 2, according to a news release. As budget officer, his salary will be $59,280.

Spokeswoman Erin Hedlun said Scott fills the slot vacated by Martha Mundt, who left in October for a job as director of finance for the city of Raytown, near Kansas City. Assistant Budget Officer Joclynn Brown manned the post during the interim.

Scott transitions to the budget office from the Greene County auditor’s office, where he served two years as a senior deputy auditor. According to the county’s website, the budget office is responsible for coordinating annual budgets, developing and maintaining special projects, monitoring the county’s financial condition and analyzing the financial impact of legislation.

“I am looking forward to tackling the challenges Greene County faces,” Scott said in the release. “While acknowledging there are areas of need, I will bring a positive outlook to the position and focus on the great services we provide to our citizens and businesses.”

In the current budget approved Jan. 30, county workers received a raise for only the second time in six years. The $37.8 million general revenue fund, a 7.8 percent increase, provides funding for 54 percent of all wages for full-time equivalents. Total salaries and benefits comprise $45.3 million, or nearly 39 percent of the budget, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.


The county’s fund balance is $9.9 million, which officials attribute to conservative budgeting over the past six years and an improving economy.

However, Greene County Presiding Commission Bob Cirtin said the nearly $2.6 million increase in the general revenue fund falls short of $9.5 million in identified critical needs. Cirtin told SBJ earlier this month that jail overcrowding, a new roof for the courthouse and the county’s share of a radio system used by law enforcement officers and firefighters remain concerns. Since the onset of the recession, 27 county vacancies remained unfilled. The 2015 budget restores two general revenue positions, upgrades the county administrator’s post to full time and adds three court bailiffs and one traffic court clerk, according to SBJ archives.

Scott has a 20-year background in banking, examination and auditing experience to the county and is a graduate of Drury University. Scott’s wife, Cora, serves as director of public information and civic engagement for the city of Springfield.[[In-content Ad]]

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