County Makes Cuts to Balance Budget

The Jasper County Commission voted Monday afternoon to approve the 2011 budget reflecting a balanced budget of $7,831,200, which includes $200,000 for contingency, and $200,000 for capital projects.
The county manager and the chief financial officer had arrived at the balanced budget number of $7.8 million, but their numbers had a $200,000 contingency and no additional for capital projects.
To have $400,000 within their discretion, the commissioners cut several departments with the biggest cuts this week going to the courts. Superior Court, Magistrate Court and Probate Court were all cut significantly.


{{more}}
In addition, payroll records showed that the Assistant Magistrate judge who works in the Clerk of Courts office is paid for 40 hours a week in the clerk’s office, and when she works in the Magistrate office gets an additional $22 per hour. Commissioners indicated records show that she is being paid for both jobs at the same time.
The other major cuts were to component units including Jasper Memorial Hospital, Jasper County Library, Jasper County Department of Family & Children Services (DFCS), the Putnam Jasper Retardation Center, Family Connection, Chamber of Commerce (COC), Health Department and the Development Authority of Jasper County (DAJC).
Each of those component units was cut a total of 20 percent. The hospital had already agreed to a nine percent reduction, so it will face 11 percent more. That will make the library’s funding leve $281,151, considerably less than the hospital’s funds spent on indigent care, charity care and bad debt.
The library is currently funded at $81,532 which is enough for it to be open two days a week. It will be reduced to $71,318. The COC was cut from $2,000 to $250.
The balanced budget also reflects a savings on health insurance, as the typical county policy will go from a $500 deductible to a $1,000 deductible. Last year’s insurance required a $2,000 deductible. Commissioners Jack Bernard and Alan Cox were opposed to that cut, but ultimately agreed to it.
The 2011 budget also reflects a significant reduction in budget for the landfill based on it being open less hours and using less staff.
The budget also builds 12 furlough (unpaid) days into the salary of each employee.
In addition, several employees had received raises in the last year which were not approved by the commission. As of January 1, 2011, those persons’ salary will be taken back to the pre-raise amount. That will save the county close to $80,000.
The commissioners have voted the last three years to not give raises, and the raises were given without their knowledge. Some positions were granted raises when persons were hired, and those will remain. Commissioners talked about cutting the Emergency Management Agency (EMA)/911 Director’s salary and that of the fire chief, but asked the county manager to do some investigation into the increased duties that those people took on when they received the raises.
Ed Westbrook had overseen the fire departments, Emergency Medical Service, 911, and the EMA for many years. When he left, his job was divided with Melissa Slocumb handling the role of EMA, for which the county gets reimbursed $5,000, and 911. Jarrett Slocumb, who was already the only paid firefighter, was named fire chief, and as such coordinates training and took on all the record keeping and other duties associated with that position.
The county hired an Emergency Medical Service (EMS) director last year, Jeff Bratcher, and commissioners did not change his salary. Prior to hiring Mr. Bratcher, Mr. Westbrook oversaw EMS, along with fire, EMA, and 911. The commission also agreed that fire services would come under Mr. Bratcher’s authority, as there was an effort afoot to cross train local EMTs and firefighters, and the nature of those jobs means they work together much of the time.
Most of the other cuts are ones the departments or constitutional officers had already cut.
The work on the budget was done at the conclusion of the agenda of the regular meeting when the commissioners went into a “work session.” After the work session, the commissioners reconvened in regular meeting to vote on the budget resolution. They will adopt and sign the resolution at their meeting scheduled for December 20.
Commissioner Carl Pennamon had to leave at noon, so he missed much of the budget discussion.

Commissioner Bernard said he’d rather cut constitutional officers allotment than cut the contingency. He said if those cuts are not made, the commission would have to talk about cutting “non-mandated services, which Carl did not want to talk about because he doesn’t want to cut.” At the close of the meeting, Commissioner Bernard commented perhaps it was good Commissioner Pennamon was not present, as he would have opposed some of the actions taken.

Regular Meeting

During the business portion of the meeting before the budget was discussed, commissioners handled a number of items with several unanimous votes.

Commissioners held the first reading of the alcohol ordinance. Voters approved last month the sale of alcohol on Sunday and permitted the sale of liquor by the drink county-wide in restaurants. Because of this, the county has to adopt an ordinance so that establishments may apply for permits to sell the beverages.

The commissioners received a copy of the proposed ordinance in advance and had several questions. They made a few adjustments, and agreed on it as a “first reading.” At the next meeting, commissioners will have a “second reading” and adoption of the ordinance after a public hearing.

Commissioners agreed to split billing from the tax commissioner, having ad valorem taxes due in two installments. The first installment will be due September 20, 2011, and the second will be December 20, 2011. That process will continue until such time as the commissioners vote to change it.

Commissioners voted to make furlough be taken in whole days. Some employees had asked if they could be taken in half-day increments. After some discussion, commissioners agreed that they must be full days.

Commissioners had questioned the coroner’s right to have county health insurance when he is not a full time employee. They received clarification before the meeting that it is appropriate. They had also questioned his expense bill from training he recently took, and that, too, was clarified in advance of the meeting. Coroner Billy Norris was on hand and suggested when an elected official’s business is to be discussed by the commissioners, it would be good to let the official know.

In other action, commissioners also:

•Agreed to put “commissioners items” back on the agenda, with commissioners being specific about what topics they want to address. These would not be action items.

•Agreed to write a letter of support for the Jasper County Historical Foundation in regards to a grant it is seeking.
•Named the county manager, Greg Wood, as the contact person for ACCG for the upcoming legislative session.

•Approved the beer and wine license renewals being sent out. They did make one change in fees in the new alcohol ordinance, that being for beer and wine distributors.

•Instructed staff to research the current policy for driveway culvert installation, and have the Planning & Zoning Commission make changes if needed. Commissioners agreed they should not be installing private culverts.

•Went into closed session to discuss personnel.