Commission O.K.’s Budget, Haggles Over Tax Reports

The Jasper County Commission approved the 2011 budget of $7,831,200 at its well-attended mid-month meeting Monday.

The budget itself garnered no discussion, however commissioners drilled the staff on how were they going to prevent department heads and constitutional officers from going over their budget.
County Manager Greg Wood said with the staff that is in place he felt there would not be a problem. Chief Financial Officer Lorri Smith and Mr. Wood plan to have monthly reviews with department heads. Mr. Wood said there are quality people in place, and he does not foresee a problem.

Commissioner Jack Bernard said that according to the data they have at least 10 departments overspent in 2010…how is that going to change?

Ms. Smith said that many of the overages were problems with the budgeting, not actual overspending. Commissioner Mary Patrick said this is not a one time thing…the constitutional officers repeatedly have not complied with their budget.

Ms. Smith said she would sit down with those who do not understand the budget print outs and work with them to stay within budget. If they make an expenditure over budget they will have to amend their budget to account for the expenditure. The department head or constitutional officer will have to find the money somewhere else in his or her budget, she explained. Mr. Wood said he and Ms. Smith have built a good rapport with the department heads and will be able to work with them.

Commissioners also voted to move to a July 1 to June 30 fiscal year beginning in 2011, so the current budget will be revisited in March, explained Ms. Smith. Although the commissioners set the 2011 budget for 12 months, they will actually look at it again in March to set the budget for the 2011-2012 fiscal year.

Commissioner Bernard said that by law we are supposed to set the budget, and they need to live within these budgets. Commissioner Alan Cox said he agreed with Mr. Bernard. The constitutional officer is bound to work within the budget the county sets.
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Commissioner Carl Pennamon said he wants to be certain that the CFO and/or manager is going to meet with the department heads and constitutional officers monthly to avoid them getting off track. Mr. Wood and Ms. Smith assured him they would do that.

Mr. Wood also suggested that all the financial records would
be posted on the county’s website, which not only informs any interested person, but it also makes the constitutional officer or department head accountable to the public. Commissioners agreed that would be fine.

After all the discussion, commissioners voted 3-2 to approve the budget. Commissioners Charles Hill, chairman, and Carl Pennamon voted against it.
One item on the agenda was the EMA and fire salaries. Ed Westbrook, who for many years served as Emergency Management Agency (EMA) director, Emergency Medical Service (EMS) director, E-911 director and fire chief left the employ of the county earlier this year.

The county hired Jeff Bratcher as EMS director at the rate of $50,000 before Mr. Westbrook left, relieving him of that responsibility. That still left three departments to be covered. The county is reimbursed by the state some $5,000 for the EMA director.

When Mr. Westbrook left, the commission approved promoting Melissa Slocumb, who was Mr. Westbrook’s assistant, to 911 and EMA director. She received a raise to put her salary in line with other department heads. The commission also approved Jarret Slocumb, the only full time fire department employee, to be named Chief over all seven county fire departments. He, too, received a raise. The commissioners also rearranged the protocol for emergency services, with fire now falling under the auspices of the EMS director, to avoid the conflict of Mr. or Mrs. Slocumb supervising one another.

When cutting the budget, Commissioner Mary Patrick made it clear she felt the raises given were excessive, and thought budget cuts could be made there. At Monday’s meeting, Mr. Wood said that those salaries were in line with salaries of others in similar positions in similar size counties.

The commissioners also held three public hearings, none of which generated much interest from the public. Commissioners approved the alcohol ordinance, the new zoning map and a family cemetery after those hearings.

Commissioners also approved Jim Stansell and Charles E. “Gene” Welch to the Board of Assessors for three year terms beginning January 2011.

They also approved the low bid for a sprinkler system at the recreation department to be paid for from Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) funds.

Before the agenda could be nard insisted an item be added about the tax commissioner and about delinquent taxes.
In the discussion about the Tax Commissioner, Commissioner Bernard said he did not see Tax Commissioner Merry Faulker putting liens on property and taking back land. He said if Merry Faulkner is having a problem doing her job, she should quit and someone else can get the back taxes collected. He said it is clear the tax commissioner is not complying with the law.

He went on to say that she has not provided reports to the commissioners as the law dictates. Commissioner Patrick said the law says “if requested..” She said the commission had not requested the report so it had not gotten it.

Commissioner Bernard said he had been pummeled in the paper for haranguing the tax commissioner. He said it is absolutely unconscionable that we have permitted this intolerable situation to go on.

Mr. Bernard went on to say that “some of our most prominent citizens are listed on the report…well known people; people with plenty of money, people ya’ll know. He said there are members of law enforcement, members of large businesses, and some are wealthy people.

“Are we going to sit back and say she’s a nice old lady or are we going to take action to collect taxes?” he asked.
Furthermore, Mr. Bernard said he wanted to garnish the wages of any county employees on the list. Commissioner Bernard then made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Cox, to direct the county attorney to tell the tax commissioner to provide all reports about delinquent taxes and what’s been done to collect them, and how it’s been done. He said we’re losing well over a million dollars a year with a 10 percent rate of people not paying.

Commission Chairman Hill said he thought it was a bad message to have the county attorney send the letter, and asked why not the county manger. Mr. Wood said he’d be happy to ask for the report.
When advised by the county attorney they could not single out and garnish the wages of county employees, commissioners agreed to reprimand those employees who have past due taxes. Mr. Wood asked about those who have established a payment plan. Then commissioners agreed to reprimand those employees who have past due taxes and are not on a payment plan and publish their names in the paper.

They also agreed that when the report is received a copy will be available in the commissioners office for anyone who wants to see it, as it is all public record.
Before the commissioners went into closed session to discuss personnel, Commissioner Carl Pennamon said he wanted to recognize County Clerk Betty Moon for a job well done and let her know she is appreciated. Mrs. Moon is retiring at the end of the year after more than 27 years with the county.