Schools, towns get extra money from county

It was Christmas in June Monday at the Custer County Courthouse as the county and county schools, towns and cities received $240,000 in unexpected gifts from the office of Treasurer Janet Roulet.
The $240,000 came from interest and fees charged on delinquent taxes and from funds collected from the sale of property confiscated by the county because the taxes had not been paid.
Custer County’s General Fund was the big winner, receiving one-third of the $240,000, or $80,000. But of course that $80,000 will be subdivided among all the offices and agencies which receive money from the General Fund.
The county’s four school districts will divide another $80,000 based on average daily attendance. That means Weatherford will get the most, basically 41.7 percent, or $33,351, because of its ADA of 2,152.
Clinton will be close behind, getting 40.7 percent, or $32,534, with an ADA of 2,100.
They’ll be followed by Thomas-Fay-Custer, 9.1 percent, or $7,296, with ADA of 471, and Arapaho-Butler, 8.6 percent, or $6,819, based on ADA of 440.
The remaining $80,000 will be split among the county’s six incorporated cities and towns based on their populations in the 2010 census.
That again puts Weatherford first in line, receiving 48.1 percent of the largesse, or $38,509, for its population of 10,833.
Clinton will get 40.1 percent ($32,110) for its 9,033 citizens; Thomas 5.2 percent ($4,198) for its 1,181 residents; Arapaho 3.5 percent ($2,830) for its 796 people; Custer City 1.7 percent ($1,333) for its 375 folks; and Butler 1.3 percent ($1,020) for its 287 residents.
City Manager Mark Skiles of Clinton was at the meeting on another matter and brought some joviality to the session. When somebody asked him how he wanted his, he quickly replied, “10s and 20s.”