The Banks County Board of Commission continues to chip away at its budget shortfall by making cuts. The commissioners approved an amendment Tuesday night reducing the budget from $13.4 million to $12.5 million. The difference reflects $900,000 in additional cuts.
Banks County finance officer Randy Failyer said the $12.5 amended budget reflects a reduction in expenses totaling $2 million from the 2009 budget.
It has taken the BOC more than six months, since its fiscal year began on July 1, to approve a budget. Final action on the budget will be taken at a meeting at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 23, at the Courthouse Annex at 150 Hudson Ridge, Homer.
USE OF COUNTY VEHICLES
In other business at the Tuesday night BOC meeting, commissioner Joe Barefoot reported that the use of county vehicles that are driven home by employees has been brought to his attention. Barefoot stated citizens have spoke to him on their concerns about the vehicles being driven to lunch and to other locations. Barefoot said the commissioners need to take a look at the use of county vehicles for take-home purposes and see exactly what this is costing the county and consider ways to cut down on this expense.
“We need to ask our human resources director (Judy Greer) to provide a list of all county vehicle driven home and have those drivers meet with us at the work session on Jan. 23 to explain and justify driving the vehicles home,” Barefoot said.
The BOC unanimously approved this action.
Commissioner Charles Turk stated he asked for a list of all the take home vehicles and drivers prior to Tuesday’s meeting, but received an incomplete list.
“We need to make sure we get an up-to-date list,” Turk said.
I didn't know search dogs liked Taco Bell food ?
The only cars that need to go home are:
Law enforcement
Fire Chief
911/EMA Director
on call water truck( The longer you wait for a leak to be turned off the more money that the county will lose.)
Everything else needs to be parked
I do not know why I feel compelled to help a vounty that was so mean to me during the early seventies....but anyway I truely feel sorry for you-all strugglinig with your decisions,,,,
*crack down on private use of county cell phones
*using prison labor for county cleaning, lawn maintainence, auto care
*using energy saving switches
All of these suggestions came from an outside observer just looking in.....makes you wonder why the BOC did not come up with some of these suggestions, after all they live here and are supposed to be looking after the taxpayers !!!
The BOC needs to be struggling with every decision they make and keep the taxpayer in the center of each decision and have enough courage to make the right choice. Start making decisions on what is best for the county, the taxpayers, and NOT on what is best for you personally.
Many of us my self included have seen this unit taken out to eat and out driving around.
Not training and not doing public service.
Park it and assign the dog to a post certified professional not a a volunteer wanna be who is of questionable character.
I want my tax dollars accounted for period !
If these employees are in or near Banks crossing around their lunch time, it would be more cost effective to go ahead and go to lunch in their county vehicles (as long as it's local). Driving BACK to the annex or courthouse to get their personal vehicles, then driving BACK to the location they were at before they took their lunch would consume more gas for the county than if they just stayed in the county vehicle to begin with and went to one of the fine eating establishments out there on I-85. I'm not talking about driving to Jefferson to eat, but folks, part of Commerce IS in Banks county, and depending on which route you take, you might actually end up in a section of Jackson county. They shouldn't be in Pendergrass, Jefferson, etc. but come on...if they are at Walmart at 3 in the afternoon in a county vehicle??? How do you know they aren't at lunch?? People DO take late lunches. They are still in the county limits. And if it is a vehicle that has to be out and about, WHY drive back and waste gas if you can stay within your jurisdiction and get a cheap lunch at walmart. People, your brain!
Fact is the person who is driving that vehicle has been using it for personal use and more then one person has seen it. I was at NE Georgia medical center twice and there it was no dog inside. Reported to Banks County Fire by more then one person but it's still on the road WHY ?
Mr P you need to quit defending this because your going to end up like Gary P....in front of a Grand Jury.
This is a tax payer in Banks County demanding accountablity and he is seeing any from the BOC and Jeff Taylor.
As for the Looneytunes I have no dog in that fight but they where right on about the former Chief maybe it's you who should hush.
I wonder what these commissioners are going to do when the new budget starts in August? Raise taxes again? Two more stores are closing in Banks Crossing this month. When will they wake up? A recall is very possible.It comes a time when you have to lay people off and cut salaries. They need to start real soon before it gets nasty.
who are you kidding, make it part of workiong here to live here, and if on call responsible to live within 15 miles of where the VOUNTY keeps the car or truck. HELLO!!!!!!