Several conversations during the June fiscal court meeting led back to warnings that the budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year will be a tight one and department heads are expected to keep a close watch on their spending.
“It’s going to be a tough budget,” magistrate Chris Reeder, a member of the budget committee said as the court approved second reading. “It can be done if everybody works hard to stay within their budget – it can be done.”
Reeder said the budget includes recent pay raises for employees and covering 100 percent for employee health insurance premiums.
Along with the budget approval, the court approved transferring funds for several departments.
If the requested funds are used, it will mean the jail used $1.5 million in general fund money, with 911 using $94,000, and the animal shelter using just under $100,000.
Recycling Center
The hours of operation at the recycling center were listed as an agenda item after the budget committee realized that director John Salamonski sometimes works overtime hours.
Salamonski said he often has to wait as inmates return to the jail for them to get checked back in, which sometimes puts him into overtime. He also can’t clock out at lunch because he has the inmates bring their lunch and he must stay with them at all times.
Magistrate Todd Davenport, also a member of the budget committee, told Salamonski that they were not trying to be offensive by asking questions but want to make sure that everyone is accountable for funds being spent. They did not vote on changing hours but several magistrates said Salamonski should change procedures to make sure inmates are returned earlier so he does not go into overtime.
Time clock process approved
The court approved the use of manual time clocks that require employees to be on site to clock in. They discussed whether the clocks should be purchased or leased and are checking to see what commitment is required in a lease.
The court discussed drug testing and possibly having the test done at the hospital. Deputy Judge Executive Bridget Compton asked the court if anyone had checked prices because she thought the hospital lab would be more expensive than other options.
Several people noted that a private company in Russell County woud probably be less expensive and the court approved using Cornerstone under certain conditions.
The court heard from Shannon Sexton with the courthouse committee. Sexton said the bell tower painting was supposed to be completed by June 1 with a 10-day rain gap allowed. Since the project was not completed, the vendor, Melson Roofing, asked for a 60-day extension. The extension was approved.
Sexton also asked the court to approve a bid of $6,200 from Dixie Restoration for painting the exterior of the doors, handrails, cement columns and windows over the doors, with caulking repaired as needed. She said she thought the bid was high but the company is subcontracting on the bell tower project and agreed to do the job now, while other companies said it would be fall before they would consider it. The court approved the payment.
The court gave second reading to an ordinance that will allow special purpose vehicles on highways effective June 27. The county’s vote falls in line with a state law that allows counties to allow the vehicles on roadways with restrictions.
The court approved the final reading for an ordinance regulating solar panels. A change was made to the original language to change the setback from 2,000 ft. to 100 ft.
The occupational tax was again on the agenda, but this time with a reminder that the court only approved the one-half cent tax for two years and it will expire unless a new vote is taken. County Judge Larry Russell Bryant again said the county needs to set a 1 percent tax in order to pay the bills. The current ½ percent brought in around $900,000 and Bryant said they still had to cut $1 million in expenses to make the budget balance.
Magistrate Chris Reeder said that was not true, the county did not cut $1 million in expenses. He said they budgeted very carefully on the receipt side during the process to develop the 2025-26 budget but then went back and made further changes.
Magistrate Mark Humphress said every department needs to watch how they spend money.
“If you get another half of a percent, you are just going to spend, spend, spend,” said Humphress. “There is a lot of money being wasted here.”
Magistrates and Bryant talked over each other as the conversation briefly got heated, but things quickly settled down as Compton brought up the process required for setting up a new tax since the existing one ends. She noted that there are several steps and they should not put off making their decision.
The court also discussed Compton’s pay, which comes from three different areas of funding because of her multiple roles. She does not receive any pay as deputy judge executive.
The topic combined with another request to increase the pay level of Tammy Crew, who operates the animal shelter. Compton pointed out that the county set pay scales for various departments that gave people in those departments a pay increase, but no pay scale is set for positions like hers or Crew’s.
Humphress said other raises were spread to all employees as well as a decision to pay health insurance premiums for all employees.
Reeder said there may be funds available in the budget for their raises but he wants to wait for a few months to make sure. Bryant said this is one of the reasons he keeps bringing up the need for a 1 percent payroll tax.
A discussion was held when Crew reported she spends her own money to buy supplies for the animal shelter so that she can stay on budget. She said she did not ask for the raise but since it has been brought up she would not feel valued by the court were they to deny it. She has worked at the animal shelters for years and has one employee who has not been there nearly as long but makes $1 an hour less than she does.
While some magistrates voiced their appreciation for her work, several voiced concerns about staying within the budget and saying it’s up to department heads to make sure they don’t over spend. Both raises were tabled.
In other business, magistrates commented that work orders for road repairs and improvements are backed up and not getting completed.
Salamonski asked about getting a truck that is currently being used by emergency management to be transferred to recycling, a suggestion previously made by Bryant. When asked, Emergency Management Director Grant Loy said he would like to keep the truck. The conversation got heated as they talked about repairs for an existing truck. No action was taken.
The court approved the hiring of Ron Stone temporarily while Jackie Cravens is off work.
Salamonski again asked if he was getting the truck after a motion was made to adjourn. The discussion between Salamonski and Bryant continued as magistrates got up to leave.
By Sharon Burton
snburton@adairvoice.com
