Commissioners consider 5% budget cut

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Commissioners consider 5% budget cut

Posted by

Zach Mitcham

in News, Top Stories

Wednesday, November 26. 2008

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BOC to meet today at 4 p.m. to discuss budget

Commissioners seem ready to change tools in the budget process — putting down the scalpel and pulling out the chainsaw.

“How many times have we gone line to line (on the budget), two times, three times?” asked Commissioner Wesley Jordan Monday. “We won’t find the money we need going line by line.”

Commissioner Bruce Scogin recently suggested that the BOC consider cutting five percent from each department’s 2008 budget and using that as the 2009 budget. He said each departments could be given discretion on how to deal with the cuts.

“We could let the department heads determine how to utilize it (their funds),” said Scogin.

Jordan echoed that sentiment Monday. He asked finance officer Kathy Clarke to determine how much money would be saved with a five percent budget reduction. She said a five percent cut would put the 2009 budget at roughly $13.6 million. It would reduce the budget by approximately $720,000.

Some county offices, such as the health department, have contractual obligations and a five percent reduction may not be feasible in those departments. Scogin also said he felt the county fire services, who split one mill of taxes between the 11 departments, should be exempt from any reduction.

Clarke told the board that, based on the digest figures, if the county keeps the mill rate the same this year, the county government will see a $50,000 revenue reduction in 2009.

Clarke also informed the board that tax commissioner Louise Watson had not received the paperwork she needed from chief appraiser James Flynt in order to submit the county digest to the state. Flynt is out of the office this week. And the board agreed to have someone contact him to get try to get that paperwork in Watson’s hands. County leaders want to get tax bills into property owners’ mailboxes before the end of the year.

The board took no action on approving the county budget Monday, but they agreed to meet again Wednesday at 4 p.m. in the county government complex to discuss the 2009 budget.

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#1 Anonymous on 11/28/08 at 10:13 PM [Reply]

Whoa, wait a second. We're going to cut the budget by 5% so we can keep Animal Control? That's crazy. Cut Animal Control. When times get better we can revisit the issue, but cut animal control before you go cutting other departments that are actually necessary!

#2 Enough on 11/29/08 at 02:51 PM [Reply]

Mr. Scogin was the person to suggest a 5% cut for ALL departments but now wants to exclude the fire department? Hmmm, could this be because he has a personal interest in the fire department? This sounds like Mr. Youngblood granting every wish for animal control since his district is the one that primarily benefits from a poorly run department or his pushing for a new EMS station since fire doesn't want to share a building anymore. (SHHH, but we have NO MONEY) Hmmm, could this be because he is a first responder?
I agree that emergency services - Sheriffs Office, EMS, Fire - should be a priority in a time of NO MONEY. This should be a no brainer, even for the BOC. Without these services we would live in chaos. SO........
Enough of the self servant decisions! It's about time decisions are made for the good of the majority of Madison County!
A 5% cut = a reduction of 720,000.00 for the 2009 budget. It may be challenging but dollars are available right under BOC noses. If you want to tax the citizens then please look to those citizens that should be taxed and for dept. heads to do their job! If Ms. Louise would collect back taxes, we could make up much of the 720,000.00. Why aren't the BOC holding Louise Watsons feet to the fire? Why is she not trying to recover back taxes?
This was brought about in early budget talks but appears to have been swept away. The mentality of 'SHHHH, don't mention things and people will forget' is irresponsponsible and frankly, insulting! There are ordinances in place to help us live in a safe, secure, civilized environment. Why aren't the BOC requiring Jack Huff to enforce the laws to clean up the unsightly mounds of trash around the county? Take a look around. Why aren't the BOC making him earn his unreasonably high wages? Earn it or move out for someone that will. Responsible enforcement = Lawful fines from irresponsible citizens = Revenue! How many dumps/recycle centers does MC need? Please don't waste my tax dollars!
As for new taxes, why aren't the BOC requiring Marvin White, the head of the Chamber of Commerce, to bring in new business - controled growth - or to promote existing business to attract people to MC? Afterall, the Chamber receives money from the county budget too. What are they doing for the county? It would be nice to see the empty Ingles/CVS building benefitting the community in a possitive way. Maybe since it's Mr. Youngbloods district, he can assist Mr. White with that task. The recent closing of a major source of revenue for this county will not make things easier.
As a taxpayer, I EXPECT, the BOC to become better stewards of taxpayer dollars. If that is not possible, man up, step down and let MC citizens vote in people who can.

#2.1 Anonymous on 12/01/08 at 01:12 PM [Reply]

Ingles has plans for the empty CVS part of the center. Big plans.

#3 concerned citizen on 11/30/08 at 12:00 PM [Reply]

Not only are we cutting the budget, were doing it to keep animal control officers that you can't rely on. If there not on a hunting trip somewhere they still don't answer there radio's and rarely answer there cell phones. I would support the budget cut if we had a better animal control program.

#4 anonymous on 12/03/08 at 11:01 PM [Reply]

Yes, We cut the budget and we keep animal control we have to keep that Rec Dept that is a waste of tax money and now the new thing is the commissioners want to put employees on furlough so why don't the commissioners take furlough ? That would save alot and oh by the way why don't they cut the pay of those in the commissioners office that make over $20.00 an hour!!!!!!!! YES you heard it right just go check it out for yourself. If you work in that office you make the top pay and can come in and get this over the employees that have been working for the county in other offices for 10 to 20 years now tell me that office is better than any other in the county!!!!!!!!I don't think so. Well commissioners I have found your savings for the furlough right in your own office. WHOA That was not so hard so why can you not see this? WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!

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