Budget and revenues are at the top of the list of priorities for the director of the local four county government council. 

Debbie Rathert took the executive director post nine weeks ago after the two year reformation of the Lake of the Ozarks Council of Local Governments.

Outside of the numbers, Rathert says her goal is to get out and help people understand what the council is supposed to do.

“I think this is a learning time where all of us are going to learn what the council is supposed to be doing," she said. "I’m shaped by what they want and theyre shaped by what we can do in terms of capacity."

As the path forward is laid out, Rathert says the positive response from governments, residents, and businesses in the four counties is growing.

“We are finding that community members are welcoming us and saying we are so glad to have you back, or, back at the table."

"So I really, really feel the strong support in this area."

Rathert says the council will also budget $5,000 for an audit in the near future.  She said that there are two reasons for that move.

“So many of the federal funds require an audit to be done.  So we are going to do it to show that we have nothing to hide."

"I want to know where the problems are so I can build on and improve those. That becomes my baseline for where the improvements go."

The Lake of the Ozarks Council covers Miller, Morgan, Camden and Laclede counties.