Leaders talk election planning

County probate judge and election superintendent Cody Cross and county registrar Tracy Dean recently appeared before commissioners to discuss their office budgets for 2012. They both noted that next year’s elections are going to require some increased funding for their departments. Dean asked for an increase of $1,400 for election expenses, including $500 more for postage and mailing. Cross asked for $89,505 to cover election costs, with the bulk of that expense, $61,585, going to cover pay for poll workers at 11 precincts during a projected six elections in 2002. The total election budget in 2010, when there were five elections, was $78,027, and $69,998 in 2008.

In the probate office, Cross said the state has mandated that each county must implement a photo ID for weapons carry licenses after Jan. 1, 2012. The licenses will cost carriers $70 and will be good for five years. Cross said he knows some people will be upset by the changes, but said local officials must carry out state law.

“That cost is set by the state,” he said.

In other budget matters recently, the commissioners heard from Mike Moak, chairman of the Madison County Library Board. The expansion of the library is under way and Moak asked commissioners to consider increased operational costs for the library once the construction is completed. The library requested two part-time workers to help supervise the additional space at the facility, one working 17 hours a week, the other 12 hours. The positions would increase the library budget by $12,987. The library also projects utility costs to go up by $9,600 and cleaning supplies to increase by $1,500 due to the expansion.

The board made no decisions last week on the proposed increases.

“It (the expanded library) will be a gem for Madison County and all of our residents,” said Moak.

Also last week, the commissioners heard from District 5 commissioner Jim Escoe, who was recently on the BOC agenda to discuss potential pay increases for non-elected county employees. Escoe asked how much a five-percent increase for unelected employees would cost.

Commissioner Stanley Thomas projected such an increase at $350,000. He said the county is not in a position to give employees such a raise, adding that county employees have, in effect, gotten a raise this year. The county government covers 100 percent of employees’ health insurance. The cost of that insurance is going up by $70,000 next year but employees won’t be affected.

“When that goes up by $70,000, you’re actually getting a raise,” said Thomas.

Escoe clarified that he was asking a question, not proposing a five-percent increase.