Budget Scrutiny Comes At County Meeting
Speaking to the county’s department heads Monday, Board President Cayce Washington stressed the important of adhering to their budgets. Washington comments came as the county is over half-way through the fiscal year which starts in October.
Budget Scrutiny Comes At County Meeting
By David Howell
Editor
COFFEEVILLE – Board President Cayce Washington urged the county’s department heads to adhere to their budgets during Monday’s Board of Supervisor meeting in Coffeeville. The topic was listed on the meeting agenda and department heads were summoned to the meeting.
“Some of y’all are slightly over. I am not here to call anyone out in a meeting, but you need to review your budget and see where you are,” Washington said, adding that personnel costs are often the biggest expense for most departments.
Washington also cited several potential cost-saving measures under review including moving the sheriff’s department and justice court office out of the Carother’s Building, located on County Road 436, just south of Water Valley. He said the sheriff’s department could relocated to an unused building adjacent to the new county jail and justice court office could move to the Coffeeville courthouse, explaining a reduction in county-operated buildings would save money.
Using his budget as an example, Washington noted one line item he was over budget on and explained he had to make sure he cut costs in other line items to ensure his total budget would be in line.
“We are over half-way through the fiscal year. We don’t want to get down to the final two months and figure out I don’t have money for people, or I don’t have money for tires,” Washington said.
“I don’t think we need to get in the habit of saying we will tap into our general fund,” Washington continued, adding the excess in the general fund provides cash flow during the slow tax collection times as part of the annual revenue cycle in the county.
Washington also stressed minimizing overtime hours for county employees, explaining the extra time is converted to comp time and can accrue to a substantial amount of money owed if the employee leaves the job.
“That money may or may not be budgeted,” Washington added, citing a recent example when an employee was owed $12,000 when he left the county for another job, an expense that was not reflected in the budget.
“You may have to put people on furlough a little bit,” Washington added about budget overages in personnel.
“At the end of the day we are here for the people of the county and we need to manage that money as best we can. I think for the most part our county does an excellent job, I am just talking about a few loose ends,” Washington concluded.
• Other business conducted at the meeting included:
• Board Attorney John Crow said he would have an updated garbage policy for supervisors to review next month. The policy was discussed last month as county officials target delinquent garbage accounts.
• Approved the transfer of a 2007 Ford F150 truck from the sheriff’s department to District 4.
• Approved the sheriff’s department to auction eight seized vehicles. The vehicles include a 1998 Chevrolet truck, a 2001 Ford F150, a 2004 Infinity G35, a 1998 Dodge, a 1998 Chevrolet truck, a 2001 Volkswagen Passat, a 2001 Volvo S40, a 1994 Toyota truck, a 2002 Chevrolet Malibu and a 1977 CJ7 Jeep. All of the vehicles will be sent to an auction except the Jeep, which the county will accept sealed bids for.
• Approved an ad valorem tax exemption for Valley Tool, Inc. Washington recused himself from the vote, citing his ownership in the company.
• Approved Vivian B. Simmons’ application as a candidate for District 5 election commissioner. Simmons is the sole candidate who has qualified for the position following the announcement that incumbent June Byford will not seek reelection. As part of the application process, the candidate is required to obtain a minimum of 50 signatures from qualified electors in the district. Circuit Clerk Daryl Burney told board members that Simmons submitted more than enough signatures, which were certified.
In addition to Byford, incumbent District 4 Election Commissioner Ora Faye Polk also announced she would not seek another term.
The deadline to qualify for the non-partisan position is June 4, and the slots will appear on the Nov. 1 General Election ballot.
• Approved a request for travel for Inventory Clerk Amy McMinn, Purchasing Clerk Bonnie Hill and receiving clerk Donna Massey to attend mandatory training in Oxford.
• Entered executive session to discuss a personnel matter.
