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Following a critical cash flow problem last winter, "The county coffers ended in the black," according to Commission President Larry McCallister.
The Calhoun Commission voted Monday to open a special "rainy-day" contingency account with about $50,000 in excess revenue from the current fiscal year.
The "in the black" money was created from cut-backs initiated by the commission earlier this year and about $20,000 more dollars received from oil and gas severance taxes than was budgeted.
The reduction in use of the regional jail also helped the budget numbers, said McCallister, although that big-ticket item will continue to be a difficult challenge for the county.
During a major fiscal crisis, elected officials opted to lay-off employees and the commission voted to eliminate health-care benefits for elected officials.
Calhoun Clerk Richard Kirby said "The belt-tightening has paid off," following a dramatic increase in regional jail costs.
The commission has just applied $40,000 toward an un-paid regional jail bill and re-instated a $1,200 monthly line item in the budget to help maintain the Calhoun County Park.
The commission, following the passage of a legislative initiative, approved a slight increase in the local process fees of $5, with $3 going to the deputy sheriff's retirement fund and $2 toward regional jail costs.
The process fee increase came from the passage of a bill introduced by Delegate Bill Stemple.
The commission, at Monday's meeting, reviewed a number of grants, including grant money received for improvements at Wayne Underwood Field.
Commissioner Rick Sampson said there have been problems getting some of the projects done at the field, and the deadline is nearing if the money is not spent.
Sampson reported that efforts to resolve those problems have helped move them ahead this week.
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