BOC budget hearings get underway

Banks County currently operates on a $12.5 million budget, with year to date expenditures totaling $8.4 million as of March 31. The initial requested total for the 2010-11 budget was for an increase of $552,000 but some cuts were made and others are expected.

Following the work sessions, the tentative requested expenditure budget for the 2010-11 fiscal year is $12.63 million, an $82,000 increase over the current budget. The BOC still has several items on the budget that could be cut before a draft budget is presented for a vote.

Some main expenses that the BOC concentrated on reducing was overtime, non-required training and travel expenses. Commissioner Ernest Rogers continually brought up comp-time in lieu of overtime during Friday morning’s meeting. Travel and non-required training for several departments, including clerk of courts, tax assessors and commissioners, was reduced.

While the budget still has more work to be done before a proposed draft can be presented, several of the line items on the expenditures were reduced by the board while some remained mostly unscathed. On Thursday evening, the BOC looked at the sheriff’s department, fire and EMS and water budgets.

The sheriff’s department is operating on a current budget of $1.89 million with a year-to-date spend out of $1.35 million. The initial request for the 2011 budget was for $1.8 million, but the current estimate is at $1.79 million after the BOC cut $10,000.
“I submitted a lean budget, and this about as lean as I can go,” Sheriff Charles Chapman told the commissioners.

The Fire/EMS faces a potential $41,000 cut from the current budget of just over $2 million to $1.96 million.

For both the fire and police departments, communications will be an issue as the federal government has mandated that the radios be switched to a narrow band operation.

According to Chapman, the patrol cars are compatible but existing call routers will need to be replaced. For the fire department and EMS services, several of the existing radios only require a software update to be compatible before the Dec. 31, 2012 deadline. These costs will be factored in as the budget work continues.

The wastewater budget will have a slight increase over the current budget, but still be less than the initial request for 2010-11. Currently, wastewater operates at $215,850 with a requested additional $17,000 for the next fiscal year. After combing the items the BOC settled on a tentative estimate of $229,260 budget for the coming year, which is an increase of $13,400. Water administration is being cut by $12,480, instead of the requested increase of just over $8,000.

The water plant operations requested budget of $570,000 is being held for the time being, but according to county finance officer Randy Failyer, will probably change as the most recent data become available. Water distribution is expected to drop from the current $245,000 to $237,000 and the a policy of turn around on reissuing water meters is expected to make its way before the BOC at the next meeting.

Other changes made to the requested 2010-11 budget during the three work sessions last week included:

•an increase to the building inspection funds of $4,000 to cover the cost of required training and potential new code books. Reductions totaling $1,800 was made from the supplies, fuel, equipment and technical line items.

•cut of $30,000 from the adult education program earmarked for building renovation. Commissioner Rickey Cain said that it didn’t make much sense to renovate if there would not be any use coming of the classrooms. Cain did say that the budget could always be amended to re-add for the renovation.

•slight decrease in jail operation funds, but the numbers could change from the current $936,000 allotted.

•pay increases were removed from the E-911 budget along with removal of machinery cost and decrease in grant expense, leaving the estimated 2011 funds at $769,000 – a $34,000 drop over the current budget.

•an increase of $3,000 to the registrars budget for required training, supplies and temporary employees.

•according to Failyer, the roads budget is around $1.3 million, an increase of $326,000 from last year, but is expected to see drastic changes as lease prices changes and items are continued to be looked to cut.

•holding a $100,000 contingency fund.

•increase of $96,000 for technology for tools, and switching to the narrow band radio communications.

•reduction in human resources of $12,000 by cutting pay scale adjustments and lowering budgeted unemployment insurance and worker’s compensation.

•reduction of tax commissioner budget by $6,000 by eliminating $2,000 for computers and cutting overtime in favor of comp time.

•reduction in tax assessors budget of $20,000 over last year.

•currently showing an increase of $36,500 for the mapper for use of software used in correcting the overlay maps and zoning. On Monday night, commissioners Rogers and Turk requested that a total of three bids be received on the software before the budget was finalized.

•reduction in spending on the courthouse by $59,000 by reducing furniture and fixture allotments, energy – electrical and funds for general supply inventory.

•the funds for the annex building were reduced as the BOC cut maintenance, vehicle upkeep and fuel budgets. The annex budget is now $442,000 – a decrease from the current $510,000.

•superior court allotments in the budget increased by $2,000 over current, despite reductions for court reporter ($10,000) and jury script ($2,000). A $15,000 increase was attributed for court appointed attorney.

•increase for clerk of courts of $2,000 for technical items.

•the district attorney line item decreased by $4,400.

•slight increase of $550 for supplies and materials and computers in the coroner budget.

•cut of $6,500 in the commissioners budget stemming from travel, education and fees.