Commission Works on Budget
The Jasper County Commissioners have scheduled three public hearings on the proposed 2019 budget, with the first being next Thursday, June 21, at 10 a.m., and the next one also on Thursday, but at 6 p.m. The third hearing is set for Monday, June 25, at 6 p.m.
The proposed budget was to be finalized today, June 14, when the commissioners meet at 6 p.m., but the preliminary numbers show a budget of $10.49 million with a three percent across the board pay increase for employees. To achieve that, commissioners are planning to spend most of this year’s fund balance, as well as some of last year’s. The shortfall looks to be about $400,000, but there were still cuts to be made. This year’s fund balance is anticipated at about $300,000, so the budget would absorb that and some more.
The county is in good financial shape, and has fund balance it can dip into. There has been much discussion among the commissioners the last couple years about how much fund balance is needed.
The tentative approved budget was determined by keeping the 2018 budget figures and adding in mandated increases. For example, health insurance is going to increase significantly, as is Courthouse security and constitutional officers have mandated increases.
The commissioners have been meeting frequently to discuss the budget, with the last meeting being Monday, June 11. They also met Thursday, June 7, and previously. At Monday’s meeting, the commissioners opened sealed bids for accommodations for the senior center during renovation. The county has received a $750,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to renovate and expand the current facility. During the 10-month construction period, the seniors need somewhere to meet.
After exploring numerous options, Tracy Norton, director of the senior center presented the commissioners with the findings last week. At that time they told her to go back to the two practical providers for sealed bids. On Monday staff opened a bid from St. James A.M.E. Church and one from Springfield Baptist Church. The numbers did not change, and St. James was the low bidder.
Rev. Jimmy Horton with Springfield Baptist Church was at the meeting and asked to withdraw his church’s bid when the two were read aloud. He said the seniors had voted that they preferred to go to Springfield, and that the church had done much to accommodate them. A representative from St. James A.M.E. Church was also present at the meeting.
